Average Growths Research Articles

A Study on the Matching Efficiency of Malaysia's Labor Market during the Covid-19 Pandemic using the DEA-Malmquist Productivity Index

This paper analyses the matching efficiency of the Malaysian labor market during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing Malmquist DEA, the results indicate that from January 2020 to December 2021, the average total factor productivity change is 0.967. TFPCH declined and had an average growth rate of -3.3% during the sample period. Decomposing TFPCH into technical change (TECHCH) and efficiency change (EFFCH), low TECHCH, with an average growth rate of -10.2%, is the main reason why TFPCH is far from the effective frontier. The TFPCH of the mining and quarrying industry is the highest, with an average growth of 18.7%. The TFPCH of both manufacturing and construction industries are the lowest with average annual growths of -1.7% and -7.6% respectively. Overall, it can be concluded that one of the main drivers to enhance the matching efficiency of the labor market is technical change or technological progress. One way is to strengthen online platforms that can help the firm or industry to match job vacancies to job seekers, even during economic shocks.

Plus tree selection of Gao vang (Naucleo Orientalis) for big timber developing of indigenous plantations

The results of early growths assessment of the Gao vang experimental planting area at the stage 7 year old and the selection of plus trees for big timber plantations show that the average growths in diameter at breast height, crown diameter, total height and trunk volume of plus trees (TG) reached a value of 16.74 cm; 5.24m; 10.74m; and 118.20 dm3 per tree, respectively, exceeding the accompanying forest tree group (ĐR) of 1.60; 1.02; 1.15; and 2.82 times, respectively, under the same comparison criteria, environmental conditions and time. The forest tree groups including, ĐR1; ĐR2; ĐR3; ĐR4; and ĐR5 had a coefficient of variation (CV%) in diameter of 19.07; 18.41; 13.45; 17.90; and 17.18%. Growth speed in diameter of plus trees including, TG4; TG3; TG2; TG5; and TG1 reached a value of 2.31; 2.40; 2.40; 2.41; and 2.43 cm per year, respectively, growth farther other forests tree group by 1.55 to 1.59 times. Exceed level (%) in diameter of plus trees including, TG1; TG2; TG3; TG4; and TG5. Forest trees groups reached a value of 31.75; 30.72; 31.97; 31.52; and 30.89%, respectively, that were better than the accompanying forest tree groups and the standards of plus trees for big timber indigenous plantating development. In total, there are over 1360 Gao vang individuals measured and evaluated, but only 5 excellent trees in growth could be selected, that had a exceed level for diameter of over 30% compared to the accompanying forest tree group, a ratio of 0.36%, and a selective intensity of 0.99. The plus trees evaluated and selected are very valuable as propagation materials, contributing to providing information, scientific basis, quality seed sources, and diversifying the structure of forestry tree varieties for the goal of developing big timber plantations with native species.

Using LED lamps in cultivation of mulberry nurseries

The analysis of results carried out on revealing the efficiency of using in night LED lamps three, namely red, blue and white colors for increasing growth and development of mulberry nurseries in the greenhouse conditions has been presented. It has been shown that using LED strips improves growth and development of nurseries on in height, leaves quantity and width of nurseries. Moreover, the development degree of nurseries differs on the control variant weakly in case of red lighting one at the same time in the blue and white lighting variants it is essential. The maximal growth of nurseries on height in comparison of control variant in case of white lighting was to 25.0 %, and the minimal one corresponds to case of red lighting, 1.9 %. The average growths of nurseries for a season was 3.3, 13.2 and 15.5 % in cases of red, blue and white lightings, correspondingly. The relative growths of nurseries on the height for a season compared beginning of the experiences were 133.3, 140.0, 163.3 and 170.0 % in cases of control and also led, blue and white lighting variants, accordingly. The most quantity of leaves in case of white lighting variant was 44.4 % more than control one and the least quantity corresponds to the red lighting variant, 8.8 %. The average values of this quantity for a season were 5.7, 21.9 and 24.3 % for red, blue and white lighting variants, correspondingly.

The results of growing broiler chickens when feeding larvae of the fly hermetia illucens

Purpose: to establish the productive action of the larvae of the flies of black lion's (Hermetia Illucens L.) when fed to the Cobb 500 crossbreaks as part of complete compound feeds.Materials and methods. In each series of experiments, 4 experimental groups of chickens of Cross "Cobb 500", 40 goals in the group were formed. An experimental bird was grown in conditions of cellular content of 2 tiers, where the parameters of microclimate and water supply were regulated automatically. The methodology and conditions of experiments were carried out according to the requirements of the methodological recommendations of the scientists of the Netip (2013). The larva entry rate was set at the rate of 3 %, 5 % and 8 % of the mass of compound feed. Poultry feeding was carried out by full-time compound feeds according to the recommended daily feeding standards for cross-country, so in the first 30 days they fed PK-5 compound feed, then from 31 days of life to the face of the feed-PK-6. The nutritional value of the PC -5 compound feed, which we used at the beginning of growing (1-30 days of experience) was per 100 g of product: OE - 1.318 MJ/315 kcal, raw protein - 24.3%, raw fiber - 3.6% and Raw fat - 5.54% on St. The nourishing of the final feed PC-6, respectively, was: 1.318 MJ/315 kcal of OE, 20.9% raw protein, 4.1% raw fiber and 5.2% fat.Results. According to laboratory analysis, it was found that the average water content in the larvae during the development period was from 62.9 to 64.5 %, while with age its concentration in the insect was slightly reduced. The same trend was traced with the content of raw fat. The concentration of protein in the larvae remained relatively constant at 38.8-39.9 % per dry mass (cm) regardless of the age of their development. The calorie content on average was 290 kcal of exchange energy (OE) in 100 grams of dry mass of larvae. According to the results of the experiments, the best effect was obtained when the larvae in the composition of the full compound feed in the amount of 3 % of the mass during the entire growing period. The live weight of the chickens of this experimental group exceeded control by 197 grams, and broilers that consumed 5 % of the larvae ahead of them by 172 grams. Moreover, the average daily growths of chickens in a group that consumed 3 % of the larvae of the flush of black lioness were 6.05 % higher than the group than the main diet. Accounting for feed costs and their residues for the growth of an experimental bird made it possible to establish that the greatest effect was obtained when feeding the larva. The cost of feeding for 1 kg of growth differed by 5.18-6.16 % of control. At the same time, the chickens were fed in the amount of 3 and 8 %, the indicators were almost equal.Conclusion. The organoleptic assessment of meat samples showed that the studied characteristics of the control and experimental groups did not differ significantly, which emphasizes the lack of negative effects of the larva on the quality of the meat of the chickens. It has been established that the most effective dose of feeding the larva is 3 % of the mass of full -time compound feed during the entire period of cultivation. The use of black lion's larvae in the specified dosage helps to reduce feed costs by 6.2% and does not worsen the quality indicators of the products produced, and also provides a positive effect on the energy of the COBB 500 cross - sized growth of about 6.0 %.

Superwetting antibacterial copper oxide nanoflake foil substrates generated by thermal oxidation

A facile one-step method of roughened copper foils of 0.0076 ​mm thickness heated on the open flame for 15 ​s produced superhydrophilic surfaces that exhibited superwetting at average radial growths of 10.8 ​mm/s following drop dispensation. Superhydrophilicity was found to deteriorate over time and XRD analysis ruled out compositional change as the cause of this behaviour. Instead, SEM imaging revealed wrinkled 20–30 ​nm-thick nanoflakes that were predominantly stretched out initially to engender superwetting properties via Wenzel wetting. These extended microstructures folded up with time due to relaxation of the residual stresses from the thermal oxidation process, resulting in temporal reduction in superhydrophilicity, which can be restored by reapplying thermal oxidation. The impingement of air with 80 psi pressure on the substrate also caused similar deterioration. The superwetting characteristic also endowed these substrates with anti-bacterial properties where a 56% reduction in bacteria count with Staphylococcus epidermidis was found. • Copper oxide substrates was created by facile one-step thermal oxidation of 0.0076 ​mm thick copper foils in 15 ​s. • The substrate has zero contact angle and spreads at average radial growths of 10.8 ​mm/s following drop dispensation. • Superwetting was promoted by wrinkled 20–30 ​nm-thick nanoflakes that were predominantly stretched out. • Superhydrophilicity deterioration over time in room conditions could be restored by reheating the substrate. • A 56% reduction in Staphylococcus epidermidis count was found due to superwetting and anti-bacterial characteristics.

Evaluation of the meat quality of chickens of the egg-meat direction of productivity, for promising use in organic production

Purpose: studying the features of the formation of signs of meat productivity in chickens of the egg-meat direction in the juvenile period in ontogenesis and fixing the most informative age for early assessment of meat qualities.Materials and methods. Young grew in group cells of a 3-tier cellular battery. The dynamics of growth and the development of exterior and interior indicators, characterizing meat productivity in ontogenesis in the young of the Pushkin breed of chickens, which refers to an egg-meat type on productivity through periodic (every 2 weeks) weighing and taking protections of the physique in 100 heads of young people. On 21 heads, an anatomical cutting was carried out at which the mass of the heart, liver, two parts of the stomach (muscular, iron), the sum of the muscles (femur, crus, metatisium) took into account. The development of meat forms of the physique to determine the age and individual characteristics was determined using exterior articles of industrial (the length of the body, the length of the keel, the gripping of the chest, the length of the leg, hips, plus). Prombs were taken from the entire experienced livestock, together with weighing, every 2 weeks. In order to find the most informative age for an early estimate of meat quality, which would characterize meat productivity at an older age, the correlation was calculated between the industrial over the age periods and the mass of muscles at 16 weeks.Results. The dynamics of the average daily growth of the living mass and the mass of the carved carcass in the roosters was uneven. Until 8-week age, the average daily increase increased, then began to decline until 14 weeks of age, during 16-week aged an average increase increased dramatically. The dynamics of average daily growths in the roosters of individual muscles was similar, namely, from 4 to 8-week age, high rates of average daily growth were noted, and from 8 to 14 months of age there is a decrease, and then again activation of growth. Studies have shown that the growth of the skeleton is slowed down by 14 weeks. The dynamics of the average daily growth of internal organs in the roosters in the juvenile period occurs asynchronously. The greatest intensity of the growth of the heart, liver and stomach was observed on a 8-week age. Studies have shown that the stomach is most intensively developing up to 8 weeks, then development is braked sharply.Conclusion. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that for the preliminary selection of chickens of the egg-meat direction of cultivation with the best genetic potential for meat productivity, it is possible at 8 weeks old, but the final rating should be carried out no earlier than 14-week age. The estimation of meat qualities in a 14-week age should be carried out on the basis of live masses and industrial, namely, the oblique length of the body, the girth plus, the length of the leg, the preliminary estimate can be done in such a precursor, as the slanting the length of the body, the length of the leg and girth plus.

Tobacco Snuff Induced Comparative Weight Changes and Notable Physical Observations in Adults Albino Wistar Rats

In Nigeria, tobacco snuff is the powdered form of smokeless tobacco blended with potash as its main additive. It has been discovered to have several adverse health effects, though perceived by many as safe. In this eight-week study, the effect of tobacco snuff consumption on body weight, physical observation and growth performance of Wistar rats were investigated. This study involved (42) Adult Wistar rats weighing 150-300g. They were divided into groups of tests and control, group A serving as control, while groups B, C and D of 12 Wister rats each served as the test groups. The test groups were further divided into subgroups (1, 2, 3 and 4) representing four experimental phases of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks respectively. The rats were fed with varying doses of tobacco snuff, while the control group (A) received feed pallets and water ad libitum. Throughout the study, serial physical and behavioural changes of the rats were recorded as well as the body weights of the rats before sacrifice. Results showed statistically significant weight changes in the test groups throughout the study period as compared with the control. On growth performance, there was an average daily growths increase in the control but decreased in the test groups in a dosage and duration dependent manner. Our findings however, indicate that tobacco snuff has the potentials of body weight reduction and could induce severe growth retardation with adversities.

Porosity evaluation and positron annihilation study of mesoporous aluminum oxy-hydroxide ceramics

The pore size and type of aluminum oxy-hydroxide (boehmite) obtained using an optimized sol–gel method was investigated as a mesoporous material with the calcination temperature varied from 150 to 550 °C. Structural features were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET. Molecular interactions were identified by using PALS (positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy) and CDBS (coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy). The XRD pattern showed that the sample synthesized at 250 °C has an orthorhombic phase characterizing the boehmite structure. All the samples prepared from pure aluminum metal were mesoporous according to BET results with a strong relationship between microstructure properties and temperature. The highest values of specific surface area and pore volume assigned to the sample prepared at 250 °C with 268.3 m2·g−1 and 0.313 cm3·g−1, respectively. The results of PAL-spectroscopy show that, the lifetime of positrons annihilating at pores of the boehmite at 350 °C increased as the average pore size growths because the free-volume defects in the samples increased.

The Sows productivity and annual dynamics of piglet growth depending on the design features of the microclimate system

This article studied the dependence of the reproductive qualities of sows and the intensity of Danish suckling piglets growth on the seasons and the structural features of the microclimate system in the gender. It was found that sows kept in rooms with a geothermal ventilation system had better retention rates, weights of 1 head at weaning, masses of piglets at weaning, fewer and proportion of still-born pigs compared to analogues that were kept during this period in the classical system of support the climate. At the same time, there are no significant differences in the number of piglets at birth and their number when weaned. The estimated index for a limited number of reproductive traits and the breeding index of sows were also found higher in 1,01% and 1,09%, respectively, as for sows whose suckers were subjected to geothermal ventilation. There is no significant difference between the absolute, average and relative growth rates of piglets maintained under different microclimate systems throughout the year. This is due to the weak influence of the ventilation type factor on the growth rate within 7,71 – 10,20%. The intensity of growth of suckling pigs in the conditions of the both industrial complex ventilation systems of pigsties increased in winter and spring and decreased in summer and autumn. It was caused by a significant strong influence of the factor of season influence on the absolute, average and relative growths, which characterize it within 21,83 to 23,54%. Due to the identified dependence of the reproductive qualities of sows and the intensity of suckling pigsgrowth on the type of ventilation and the time of year, it should be noted that further studies of these factors influence are important to continue. Key words: sow, piglet, type of ventilation, multiple pregnancy, weight of the nest of piglets, safety, season of the year.

Characteristics of half-siblings cows’ by growth and milk productivity

It is proved that the live weight of replacement heifers, the intensity of their formation and milk productivity in primiparous cows depends on father origin, in particular, the value of the index of live weight formation between groups of half-siblings ranges from 68,9 to 82.3 (for comparing ages 6–0 and 12–6 months), from 15,1 to 18,4 (6–3 and 9–6 months), from 23,8 to 28,6 (6–3 and 12–9 months); average daily growth rate in the age of 0–12 months – from 659 to 717 g, 12–18 months – from 500 to 585 g; live weight at the age of 12 months – from 367 to 399 kg; 305-day milk yield – from 5295 to 7595 kg, fat content in milk – from 3,70 to 3,78 %, protein content – from 3,23 to 3,34 %, milk fat – from 197 to 286 kg, milk protein – from 175 to 253 kg. Regardless of the method of determining the index of live weight formation, the higher values of them had daughters of sires M. Nirvana 101709244 (82,3; 18,3; 26,9, respectively), B. Buick 10789585 (80,0; 18,1; 28,6) and M. W. Tahoe 8189401 (80,1; 18,4; 27,7). There were determined differences (P < 0,001) between half-siblings by the average daily growth at the age 0-12 and 12-18 months. At the age of 0-12 months, the higher average daily growths showed daughters of sires M. W. Tahoe 8189401, Flame 112302008 and B. Buick 10789585 (on average 711 g), aged 12–18 months – daughters of sires M. Nirvana 101709244, N. Alfons 353588796, H. R. Artist 6284191 and H. Hadley 123055802 (on average 566 g). The higher intensity of growth of replacement heifers up to 12 months was not related to higher milk productivity in primiparous cows. The advantage of milk yield (+606…+1373 kg, P < 0,001), milk fat (+25…+54 kg, P < 0,001) and milk protein (+22…+48 kg, P < 0,001) was observed in daughters of sires M. Estimate 5925716 and N. Alfons 353588796, whose live weight at the age of 18 months did not exceed the average in the group. The low milk productivity (–525…–927 kg of milk compared to the average, –18…–44 kg of milk fat and –8…–30 kg of milk protein) were characterized for daughters of bulls Flame 112302008 and M. W. Tahoe 8189401, which had significantly higher intensity of growth and live weight formation. Based on the variance analysis it was established that the effect of parentage on the live weight of cows from birth to 18 months was 24,4–43,6 % of the total phenotypic variation, the average daily growth rate – 27,5–47,7 %, traits of milk productivity – 18,0–30,1 % with a high probability (P < 0,001) Key words: dairy cattle, parentage, half-siblings, the index of live weight formation, milk productivity, power of influence.

Assessing the resilience of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa economies following the global financial crisis

Orientation: Productivity is known as a good predictor of living standards, able to indicate well-being of the population and efficiency of the economy.Research purpose: To examine how the global financial crisis affected the total factor productivity (TFP) of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies.Motivation for the study: Productivity of BRICS is far below the G-7 and EU-28 countries, even though the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa together are very representative of both the world gross domestic product (GDP) and population.Research design, approach and method: Observational study of a cross country panel data of five countries throughout 14 years, including the period of the 2008 crisis. Based on the Penn World Table (PWT) 9.0 database, we compared BRICS countries, from 2001 to 2014, before and after the financial crisis. Descriptive statistics, tests with Fisher–Snedecor (F) distribution, and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), may bring robust evidence to construct conclusions.Main findings: Findings suggest that the TFP average growth was negatively affected. The special situation of ‘B’ and ‘S’ (Brazil and South Africa) deserves attention, with negative average growth before and after the financial crisis for Brazil, and a dramatic loss of average growth for South Africa. The global crisis seems to have separated BRICS into RIC-BS in the aftermath. Not all the TFP average growths were equal, either before or after the financial crisis.Practical/managerial implications: The TFP average growth, which is essential to economic development of the nation, is the result of managerial behaviour of companies and governments on a day to day basis. Decision makers and policymakers need to know how productivity was affected by the financial crisis.Contribution/value-add: There is a gap in economic literature about the productivity of BRICS compared, restraining the assessment of the homogeneity of the BRICS economic development, especially as an aftermath of the crisis. The main contribution to the field of business and economics is giving evidence-based information to policymakers and decision makers of the BRICS about the extension of the 2008 financial crisis’ impact, offering a new perception of the block’s resilience both individually and combined.

Spatial Distribution of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surface Expansion and Correlation With Maximum Diameter and Volume Growth

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth rate, measured as maximum diameter (Dmax) change over time, is used as a surrogate marker of rupture risk. However, AAA expansion presents significant spatial variability. We aim to record the spatial distribution of regional wall surface expansion. Thirty AAAs were retrospectively studied. Each AAA had one baseline and at least one follow-up computed tomography scan. Three-dimensional AAA models were reconstructed, and change in Dmax and total aneurysm volume was recorded to calculate annual growth rates. Regional surface growth was quantified using the VascForm algorithm, which is based on nonrigid point cloud registration and iterative closest point analysis. Maximum and average surface growths were calculated and correlated with the diameter/volume growth rates. Furthermore, to identify potential correlation between maximum thrombus (intraluminal thrombus) thickness and maximum surface growth, as well as between peak wall stress (PWS) and surface growth, their colocalization was examined. The median average annual surface growth was 6% (0%-28%), and the maximum surface growth 24% (11%-238%). There was strong evidence of a moderate correlation between Dmax and average as well as maximum surface growth. Regarding volumes, there was strong evidence of a very strong association with average surface growth rate and a moderate association with maximum surface growth rate (rho: 0.91, P<0.001; rho: 0.7, P<0.001, respectively). In 51.6% of the follow-ups, maximum surface growth occurred away from Dmax site. Sixteen cases presented maximum surface growth away and fifteen at the region of maximum initial intraluminal thrombus thickness. AAAs in the former group had significantly thinner initial intraluminal thrombus thickness (11.3 vs 19.5mm, P<0.001) than those in the latter. Apart from a single case, maximum surface growth did not occur at the PWS region. More than half of the lesions display maximum growth away from Dmax, suggesting that a more accurate method of analyzing AAA growth needs to be established in clinical practice that will take into account local surface growth.

Spatial Epidemiology and Risk Factor Analysis of White Spot Disease in the Shrimp Farming Industry of Sinaloa, Mexico, from 2005 to 2011.

White spot disease (WSD), caused by the white spot syndrome virus, is currently one of the primary causes of mortality and economic losses in the shrimp farming industry worldwide. In Mexico, shrimp production is one of the most important primary activities generating an annual income of USD 711 million. However, WSD introduction in 1999 had a devastating impact for the Mexican shrimp industry. The aim of this study was to characterize the WSD spatio-temporal patterns and to identify the primary risk factors contributing to WSD occurrence from 2005 to 2011 in Sinaloa, Mexico. We used data collected by the 'Comité Estatal de Sanidad Acuícola de Sinaloa' from 2005 to 2011 regarding WSD outbreaks as well as environmental, production and husbandry factors at farm level. The spatio-temporal patterns of WSD were described using space-time scan statistics. The effect of 52 variables on the time to WSD outbreak occurrence was assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results reveal that WSD risk and survival time were not homogeneously distributed as suggested by the significant clusters obtained using the space-time permutation model and the space-time exponential model, respectively. The Cox model revealed that the first production cycle [hazard ratio (HR)=11.31], changes from 1 to 1.4°C of temperature oscillation caused by 'El Niño'/'La Niña' events (HR=1.44) and high average daily growths (HR=1.26) were significantly associated with lower survival (i.e. shorter time to WSD outbreak) on farm. Conversely, shrimp weight at the moment of the outbreak (HR=0.159), changes from -0.9 to -0.5°C of temperature oscillation caused by 'El Niño'/'La Niña' events (HR=0.540), high superficial water temperature during the pound stocking (HR=0.823) and high (>100) number of days of culture (HR=0.830) were factors associated with higher survival. Results are expected to inform the design of risk-based, intervention strategies to minimize the impact of WSD in Mexico.

A methodology for assessing local bifurcated blood vessel shape variations

The analysis of the progression of cardiovascular diseases is an active area of ongoing research. This paper develops an image registration-based methodology to quantify the patient-specific local blood vessel shape variations that occur in the radial direction (i.e. expansion or shrinkage) over an imaging follow-up period, and an example is presented as proof of principle. The methodology can be used for complex vessels with bifurcations, and it is able to identify and address vessel deformations if changes in tortuosity or longitudinal direction are small. The methodology consists of (a) overlapping the baseline and follow-up vessel surfaces by matching the lumen centerline, (b) dividing the region of interest into slices perpendicular to the centerline and centering each slice, and (c) dividing each centered slice into sectors. The local approach consists of analyzing a representative point in each sector of each slice (i.e. each patch). In this paper the algorithm is applied to a patient-specific abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) as a proof of principle of the method. Six patient-specific image reconstructions from a single subject followed for 28 months are analyzed in pairs, yielding five time spans to which the algorithm was applied. The algorithm was able to quantify the AAA radial growth. The average AAA radial growths for the five case studies are –2.13 mm, 3.43 mm, –0.25 mm, 1.41 mm, and 0.84 mm, whereas the maximum local growths are 4.76 ± 0.15 mm, 9.30 ± 1.13 mm, 2.08 ± 0.05 mm, 4.10 ± 0.14 mm, and 4.16 ± 0.45 mm. The tolerance of the geometric local measurements is related to the matching processes (i.e. overlapping the geometries and centering each slice) because of the vessel deformation that took place over time. Thus, this methodology has been used to quantify the average AAA growth and the maximum local AAA growth (± the tolerance) as metrics of the vessel’s radial growth.

A ‘Western’ dietary pattern, adiposity and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents

Findings: BMI, WAISTC and RLF increased over time. Average growths and variations across individuals were statistically significant. As RLF rose over time, BMI and WAISTC decreased, that is, positive growth in RLF was associated with reduced growth in BMI and WAISTC. Statistically significant associations between growth intercepts remained even when accounting for individualand area-level covariates. Conclusion: Longitudinal analysis using growth models enabled the estimation of individual trajectories and to examine the extent to which they are associated to each other. Although rising RLF was associated with reduced growth in BMI and WAISTC, other factors such as diet and active lifestyle could contribute to changes in BMI and WAISTC [1—3].

Study of economic development of Pakistan through stock market: Causal relationship of stock prices and macroeconomic indicators

The purpose of the research is to examine the causal relationship between stock prices and the variables representing the real sector of the economy for example real GDP, and real investment, in Pakistan. In this study, annual data is used (quarter-wise) from December 1980 to June 2007 and the correlation analysis has been applied, to investigate the relationship. For better understanding of the Market’s Behavior, data has been grouped in to Liberalization periods; Preliberalization and Post-Liberalization. The stock market in Pakistan provides an average quarterly return of 2.86%.The average annual growths in real variables are just lower than 1% for GDP and returns slightly over 1% in investments. A comparison of the descriptive statistics between the two sub-periods indicates decline in the average growth in real variables. Real GDP fell ,and real investment also decreased. The decline is significant both in GDP and investment. Though the magnitude of the average growth in stock price index increased in the second period it is not significantly different from that of the first period. The descriptive statistics indicates a much higher expansion in stock prices relative to real variables. However, the stock prices also experienced higher volatility during the sample period whereas the real variables seem to be stable

Optimization of space system development resources

NASA has had a decades-long problem with cost growth during the development of space science missions. Numerous agency-sponsored studies have produced average mission level cost growths ranging from 23% to 77%.A new study of 26 historical NASA Science instrument set developments using expert judgment to reallocate key development resources has an average cost growth of 73.77%. Twice in history, a barter-based mechanism has been used to reallocate key development resources during instrument development. The mean instrument set development cost growth was −1.55%. Performing a bivariate inference on the means of these two distributions, there is statistical evidence to support the claim that using a barter-based mechanism to reallocate key instrument development resources will result in a lower expected cost growth than using the expert judgment approach.Agent-based discrete event simulation is the natural way to model a trade environment. A NetLogo agent-based barter-based simulation of science instrument development was created. The agent-based model was validated against the Cassini historical example, as the starting and ending instrument development conditions are available. The resulting validated agent-based barter-based science instrument resource reallocation simulation was used to perform 300 instrument development simulations, using barter to reallocate development resources. The mean cost growth was −3.365%. A bivariate inference on the means was performed to determine that additional significant statistical evidence exists to support a claim that using barter-based resource reallocation will result in lower expected cost growth, with respect to the historical expert judgment approach.Barter-based key development resource reallocation should work on spacecraft development as well as it has worked on instrument development. A new study of 28 historical NASA science spacecraft developments has an average cost growth of 46.04%. As barter-based key development resource reallocation has never been tried in a spacecraft development, no historical results exist, and a simulation of using that approach must be developed. The instrument development simulation should be modified to account for spacecraft development market participant differences. The resulting agent-based barter-based spacecraft resource reallocation simulation would then be used to determine if significant statistical evidence exists to prove a claim that using barter-based resource reallocation will result in lower expected cost growth.

Financial Impact of Legislation Activities on a State Dietetic Association

LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify the financial impact of legislative activities on the budget of a state dietetic association. The (IDA), an ADA affiliate with 3260 members, conducted a financial analysis to investigate the role of legislative activities on the progressive growth of the operating budget. Operating budgets for the previous nine years were studied with legislative expenses tallied separately from the remainder of the operating expenses. The average growths were calculated and the data was graphed for trendlines. The financial analysis revealed similar average annual growths of $3,548 for the operating budget without legislative activities (OB) and $3,408 for the legislative budget (LB). Financial increases in both the OB and LB were mainly attributable to increased staff/consultant costs, regardless of whether the work was for operational or legislative activities. Midway through the years studied, the IDA's push to obtain licensure took the majority of the Government Affairs Director's time. Activities concerning other state and national legislation replaced these LB expenses once licensure was obtained. Likewise, duties of the Executive Director (OB expenses) expanded at a similar rate during this time frame to include state assembly planning and bookkeeping. In this state dietetic association, the notion that legislative activities are rising more rapidly than other operational expenses was not supported. Overall budget growth was directly related to the paid staff, regardless of their assigned duties. District and state associations may find that the amount of money allocated to legislative activities does not inflate their budget disproportionately to other association activities.

Risk Assessment of Competitive Procurement

A method is proposed to evaluate the risk of cost growth in competitively procured construction projects. It uses computer records of past bid data and an inferential statistical technique to simultaneously assign projects into two risk categories. One category is based on the observed disagreement between the winning bid and the other submitted bids. The other is based upon the observed bias in the bidding pattern of the winning bidder. Results verify differences in cost growth for both risk categories. Projects awarded to the most extreme bids are seven times more likely to experience excessive cost growth than a project awarded to a more reasonable bid. Similarly, projects awarded to extreme bidders have average cost growths 3.5–4 times higher than if awarded to more reasonable bidders. This risk-assessment method would prove useful in the bid-evaluation procedures of public agencies. It appears from these results that agencies that make bargains based upon competitive procurement, often do not receive...

Composite toe (phalanx and epiphysis) transfers in the reconstruction of the aphalangic hand

Twenty children with ectrodactyly have had 36 digits reconstructed with toe phalanges inserted into the existing soft tissue finger pouches or pouches constructed with local tissue. Care is taken to preserve the periosteum, epiphyseal plate, and collateral ligaments of the transfers. No surgical microvascular anastomoses are performed, and the entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes. Epiphyseal patency rates in children with a mean follow-up of 3.4 years and a median of 4 years are 90% for those operated on at 6 months to 1 1/2 years of age, 67% in those operated on at 1 1/2 to 5 years, and 50% in children operated on at 5 to 13 years of age. Radiographic growth measurements show average growths greater than 90% of the expected growth based on measurements of the contralateral donor phalanx for all transfers with open epiphyses. These reconstructed digits provide fingers that are sensate, capable of pinch and grasp, and able to tolerate heavy use.