Central County Research Articles

'You feel how you look': Exploring the impacts of unmet water, sanitation, and hygiene needs among rural people experiencing homelessness and their intersection with drug use.

Existing literature attests to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) inequities among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in the United States, but there is a dearth of research on such issues in rural areas. Homelessness is an emerging public health concern in rural areas where homelessness is on the rise, infectious disease outbreaks are becoming increasingly common, and PEH face unique WASH-related challenges compared to their urban counterparts. We conducted an exploratory study to understand the impacts of unmet WASH needs among rural PEH and their intersection with drug use through in-depth interviews (n = 10). Eligible participants were 18 years or older, lived in one of five Central Appalachian counties, and had experienced homelessness in the previous six months. Using thematic analysis, we identified factors that inhibit WASH access, and adverse health and well-being outcomes that result from unmet WASH needs. We also explore how WASH experiences compare among rural PEH who self-reported drug use to those who did not. Our findings revealed that factors at multiple levels inhibited WASH access, including stigma and place-based characteristics, which contributed to the adverse physical, mental, and emotional health of PEH. Comparisons between PEH who used drugs to those that did not revealed the intricate relationship between WASH, homelessness, and substance use in communities impacted by the opioid epidemic. Expanded WASH facilities that are safe and available with no prerequisites can address inadequate access among rural PEH and collaboration with harm reduction services may be advantageous to reach those who inject drugs.

Assessment and dynamic mechanisms of the land-use dominant morphology transition: a case study of Hainan Province, China.

This paper was aimed at providing a perspective on the assessment of land-use dominant transition. Based on the transfer matrix of land-use type, the dynamic degree of dominant morphology transition was measured, and an active degree index was proposed. The spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics were assessed and analyzed by land use change characteristics in different phases. Our assessment resulted in three types of spatiotemporal differentiation of Hainan Province in China. The whole island can be divided into three regions with two parallel lines at 45° based on spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics. The "slow-type" was distributed in four eastern counties (cities), "steady-type" was distributed in 13 central and western counties (cities), and the "active-type" was distributed in four central counties (cities). Over three phases, namely 2010-2011, 2012-2015, and 2015-2018, four levels of spatiotemporal differentiation of the 21 counties (cities) were assessed, and they were relatively stable, leaping, declining, and unstable. Areas of new construction and fixed assets investments consumed by increased construction land were the positive factors of land-use dominant transition, while output values of secondary industries and area of industrial-mining per capita were the negative factors. Based on these results, a more informative examination of LULC was proposed, and all resulting land management policies will be more targeted and effective.

INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS’ DIGITAL COMMUNICATION LITERACY ON ICT INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KITUI CENTRAL SUB COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: Integration of ICT in educational management is becoming an effective factor in running schools in Kenya and yet there are many public secondary schools which are still stuck in the inefficient analogue methods in Kitui Central. The aim of this investigation was to look at the influence of principals’ digital communication literacy on ICT integration management outcomes in public secondary schools in Kitui Central Sub County, Kenya.
 Methodology: The study was guided by Connectivism and Diffusion of Innovations theories. The study embraced the concurrent triangulation design. The target population was 301 participants which comprised of 50 principals, 200 Heads of departments, 50 BoM chairpersons and 1 ICT Sub County Director. The sample was 172 participants comprising of 28 principals, 115 HoDs, 28 BoM chairpersons and 1 ICT director. The principals were sampled using purposive sampling as well as the BoM chairpersons. The HoDs were randomly sampled. There was questionnaire for HoDs and and interview schedule for principals. Quantitative data was analyzed in descriptive statistics and presented in tables, frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically and presented in verbatim citations as well narratives.
 Findings: From the findings, it was accepted that most principals were familiar with computer operations. However, there were issues when it came to typesetting, Skype, organizing, copying, pasting and navigation of files using windows. Consequently, there was need to beef up digital communication among the principals.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The Connectivism and Diffusion of Innovations theories were used. The first one is about making decisions on the fast-changing realities while the second is on generalizing inventions in communities and accepting or rejecting them. The theories helped making decisions and accepting new changes. The study established that principals still lacked digital communication literacy, calling for more training in ICT. The theories were validated in that there was need to make decisions on new technology and more importantly, accept these changes like ICT. It was recommended that the government should put in place modalities of improving digital communication literacy.

INFLUENCE OF SCHOOLS’ DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP PRACTICES ON STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATORY DECISION MAKING IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TIGANIA EAST SUB COUNTY, MERU COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: Globally, there is a concern on the way learners are being involved in decision making in their schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of schools’ democratic leadership practices on students’ participatory decision making in public secondary schools in Tigania East Sub County, Kenya.
 Methodology: This study was guided by the Participative Leadership Theory and the Normative Decision-making Theory. The study embraced mixed methodology and the concurrent triangulation with descriptive survey for quantitative data design. The target population was 479 which included: 25 principals, 250 teachers, 4 education officers and 200 students. The total sample was 199 participants. This included 11 principals, 110 teachers, 4 education officers and 74 student leaders. There were questionnaires for teachers and interview schedule for principals. The instruments were piloted in Tigania Central Sub County using 10 teachers and 6 BoM chairpersons representing 10% of the total sample. The piloting participants was not included in the final sample since they came from another sub county. Quantitative data was analyzed in descriptive and presented using tables, frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis presented in narrative form and verbatim citations.
 Findings: The study established that schools’ democratic leadership practices as independent variables were fully fulfilled and students’ participatory decision making was present among schools in the study area. It was recommended that more research be done in Meru using various participants and the government establish if students participated fully in decision making processes.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Participative Leadership Theory emphasizes participation in making decisions. It is quite democratic in nature. It emphasizes team members making decisions. Normative Decision-Making Theory shows the effectiveness of the decision-making process measures. The theories were validated as they showed participation and effective decision making. It was recommended that more research be done in the study area on the same subject.

Mapping recent (1997–2017) and future (2030) county-level social vulnerability to socio-economic conditions and natural hazards throughout Iran

Social vulnerability assessments are intended to help mitigate or prevent adverse socio-economic effects of environmental hazards on human societies. In this study, we monitored the change of social vulnerability to multiple environmental hazards over a 20-year (1997–2017) period in Iran and provide a prediction of social vulnerability for 2030 under the RCP 8.5 climate change scenario. Following validation of two social vulnerability index (SoVI) values based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and a weighed method using observed county-level disaster outcomes, social vulnerability to four environmental variables or risk factors (i.e., drought, flood, landslide, and earthquake) was evaluated with 32 socio-economic values using the weighted method. Social vulnerability was strongly correlated with its three dimensions (i.e., exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity), and each dimension was strongly correlated with its constituent variables. Results showed that despite improved adaptive capacity between 1997 and 2017, simultaneously increased sensitivity and exposure increased social vulnerability spatially unevenly throughout the country, with greater increases in northern and northeastern than in central and southeastern counties. Extrapolating socio-economic variables and accounting for projected increases in drought severity is expected to increase the social vulnerability of the country by ∼27%, with forty-three (11%) mostly northern, northwestern, and northeastern counties with a combined population of ∼37 million people (46% of the current Iranian population) exposed to high to very high levels of vulnerability by 2030. Adaptation programs to enhance the resilience following deteriorating socio-economic conditions and climate change-induced droughts in these counties may require better water management strategies to enhance water security. Given the socio-economic conditions of the country and international sanctions, programs should be flanked by more balanced investment in less developed and more vulnerable counties to increase economic and social prosperity and prevent mass migration to more developed areas. This major challenge necessitates more accurate economic planning, development of investment, and improved international relations.

Linking citizen science with contamination levels of small water bodies for generation of essential information for conservation and investment

AbstractSocio‐ecological characteristics of small water bodies (SWBs) are useful in determining the required level of rehabilitation and rebranding for possible blue economic investments. The current study assessed the socio‐ecological aspects of 74 SWBs in central and western counties in Kenya to determine their contamination status. The SWBs were selected to account for sub‐county representation, coverage and permanence of the water source. Respondents assessed in the selected SWBs catchments were identified from riparian communities and policymakers. Physicochemical parameters were assessed using standard methods. Regionally, the SWBs showed significant variations (p < .05) in the main occupation, ownership, restricted access and perceived alternating extreme precipitation ranges. Significant differences in the selected citizen science attributes and SWBs’ dimensions of both depth and size, were linked to higher total and faecal coliforms in western as compared to central Kenya and higher water transparency in the latter. Thus, localized human activities that had significant variations between the two regions are highly likely to have affected the differences in the contamination levels. The socio‐ecological indexing herein can be of general use for determining the contamination status of SWBs as an integrative management tool for possible investment.

Tea consumption and the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Tea has the potential to lower the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) owing to its high antioxidant capacity. AAA risk factors including smoking, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia, may modify this association. The study population included 45 047 men in the Cohort of Swedish Men (COSM) and 36 611 women in the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC), aged 45-83 years at baseline. The COSM was established in 1997 with all men who lived in two central Swedish counties (Västmanland and Örebro), and the SMC was established in 1987-1990 with women residing in Västmanland county. Tea consumption was assessed by means of food frequency questionnaires in 1997 and 2009. During 17.5 years of follow-up, 1781 AAA cases (1496 men, 285 women; 1497 non-ruptured, 284 ruptured) were ascertained via Swedish registers. Tea consumption was inversely associated with total AAA incidence in men and women. Women had a 23 (95 per cent c.i. 8 to 36) per cent lower risk of AAA per each cup per day increment, whereas men had a 9 (0 to 17) per cent lower risk (Pinteraction = 0.029). Tea consumption was associated with a lower risk of both non-ruptured (hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95 per cent c.i. 0.85 to 1.01) and ruptured (HR 0.84, 0.71 to 0.98) AAA. Smoking status modified the association (Pinteraction < 0.001), whereby tea consumption was associated with lower risk of AAA in ex-smokers (per cup per day, HR 0.89, 0.80 to 0.98) and in never smokers (HR 0.88, 0.77 to 1.00), but not in current smokers (HR 0.95, 0.84 to 1.06). Tea consumption was associated with a lower risk in participants with (HR 0.88, 0.80 to 0.98) and without (HR 0.93, 0.88 to 1.00) hypertension, and in those with (HR 0.82, 0.67 to 1.01) and without (HR 0.92, 0.86 to 0.98) hypercholesterolaemia. Tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of AAA. The association was more pronounced for ruptured than non-ruptured AAA, and in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia than those without. The association was also observed in ex-smokers and never smokers, but not in current smokers.

Racial, ethnic, and geographical differences in testicular cancer mortality trends in the United States.

409 Background: Incidence rates of Testicular cancer (TC) have been slowly increasing in the United States in recent decades. Prior research has identified racial disparities in mortality; however, these trends have not been extensively evaluated. Given that TC has a diverse presentation, this study was undertaken to establish racial, ethnic, geographical differences in longitudinal mortality trends. Methods: Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates for TC were obtained for men in the United States from the CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. Testicular cancer-specific mortality (TCSM) rates from 1999-2019 were calculated using linear regression. Trends in mortality by race (White versus Black), ethnicity (Hispanic versus non-Hispanic), urbanization, and census region were analyzed using SAS 9.4. TCSM rates were compared by F-test. A two-sided hypothesis test was performed for p-values, where values &lt; 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: From 1999-2019, overall age-adjusted TCSM has been slowly, but not significantly, increasing per year (Table). There was worsening TCSM rates for Hispanics (+)0.0019 per 100,000 compared to non-Hispanics (-)0.003; p=0.010. Black men had slightly improved TCSM rates/year (-0.0007) compared to white men (+0.0006); p=0.049. Significant geographical differences in mortality rates were observed, with a decreasing TCSM rate of (-)0.00092 the Northeast and an increasing rate of (+)0.00086 in the West (p = 0.032 for difference between slopes). Among urbanization categories, TCSM rates in Large Central Metros regions (central counties in metro areas with population &gt; 1 million) and Small Metro regions (counties with population 50,000-249,999) were significantly different [(-)0.0004 and (+)0.0022 respectively; p =0.048]. All other comparisons were not significant. Conclusions: Using comprehensive, contemporary data on TCSM over 2 decades, we found significant differences in TCSM rates. Mortality rates from TC have been increasing, particularly among Hispanics. Understanding racial, ethnic, and geographical trends in TCSM rates is important in treating men with the disease and, ultimately, reducing deaths caused by TC.[Table: see text]

Are minority-owned businesses moving to suburbs? Intrametropolitan spatial shifts and their causes

It is well documented that the U.S. metropolitan areas have experienced significant spatial, economic and demographic changes with increasing minority and immigrant population living in the suburbs. At the same time, minority-owned businesses saw substantial growth over the years and play important roles in local economic development. Using data from the 2007 and 2012 Survey of Business Owner, we trace the intrametropolitan location shifts of minority-owned businesses (including black-, Asian-, and Hispanic-owned) for 60 metropolitan areas and their performances in cities and suburbs over time through descriptive analysis. We find that minority-owned businesses had a strong presence in the suburbs but have grown faster in the central counties. They hired about 20–23% of total central area workforce and about 15–17% of total suburban workforce during this time period. Black-owned businesses remain the least suburbanized of all groups Suburban firms in general outperform their central city counterparts. Using regression analysis, we test a series of demographic, economic, and policy factors as potential causes of business spatial change and find the strong impact of co-ethnic population’s presence in a community for the growth of their respective businesses.

TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KISII COUNTY, KENYA

This paper investigates the teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education in public primary schools in Kenya.It particularly explores the influence of the teachers’ demographic variables on the perceptions of inclusive education in the regular school system. The study is guided by the positioning theory puts emphasis on within the framework of discursive psychology and requires close analysis of cues that participants use to position themselves, their listeners, and others. The analysis adopted the Ex Post Facto criterion group research design to identify the causative relationship between the demographic indicators and inclusive education practices. The respondents (n = 333) were regular primary school teachers in Kisii Central Sub County of Kisii County, Kenya. There were five research questions that guided the current study were translated into ten hypotheses which were tested using the one – way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).The findings reveal that the participants presented mixed opinions on the general philosophy of inclusive education based on their demographic factors. The difference among age cohort (F (14,329)= 2.629; P&lt; .001), level of qualification (F(14,311)= 8.94; P&lt; .001) and teaching experience (F(12,163)= 18.03; p&lt; .001) were found to have statistically significant influence on regular teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education. However, the findings showed that gender (F(14, 300)= 1.385; p&gt; .001) and training in disability education (F (13,316)=3.84; P&gt; .001), did not have significant influence on regular teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education. The study has revealed that a number of teacher demographic factors significantly influence teacher’s perceptions in inclusive education classrooms in the general school environments. These include teacher’s age, level of educational qualification and teaching experience. The gender and training in disability of the teachers however do not influence the teachers perceptions.

Doğu Anadolu Bölgesindeki Sığırcılık İşletmelerinde Yem Kullanımı ve Sığır Besleme Uygulamaları: Erzincan İli Merkez İlçesi Örneği

This study was conducted to determine the common animal feeding practices as well as types of feeds used in the cattle enterprises located in the central county of Erzincan province. For this purpose, data were obtained by conducting a face to face survey with 401 dairy cattle breeders. Percentages of the enterprises which moved their animals to pasture in March, April, May and June were respectively 2.6%, 56.7%, 39.3% and 1.3%. Cattle breeders tended generally to buy concentrate feed from feed mills, while majority of them (74.8%) grew forage crops in their own enterprises. The most commonly used roughage types were wheat-barley straw (95.8%), alfalfa hay (78.1%) and meadow hay (52.1%), while crushed barley (92.0%), wheat bran (78.6%), dairy cattle feed (68.3%) and cattle fattening feed (50.6%) were prominent as concentrate feeds. It was also determined that feeds in the majority of the enterprises (97.5%) were distributed to animals by hand. Data regarding weaning age of calves indicated that 0.6% of the enterprises weaned their calves at one month of age, 10.9% at two months of age, 79.7% at three-four months of ages, 5.4% at five-six months of ages and 3.4% at seven months of age or older. In conclusion, the awareness of the breeders about updated cattle feeding practices and especially for silage corn planting as well as usage of maize silage for nutrition of animals must be increased and the incentives and financial supports in this respect has to be raised for profitable cattle husbandry in central county.

Geography of Disparity: Connecting COVID-19 Vulnerability and Social Determinants of Health in Colorado

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn greater attention to social determinants of health and associated health inequities, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and places in the U.S. In this study, we explored geographic patterns of local-level COVID-19 vulnerability and associations with social and health determinants across Colorado. To conceptualize social and health determinants and how together they generate risk and exposure, we integrated the concepts of social vulnerability and syndemic to situate COVID-19 vulnerability within a broader hazards of place framework. Using geospatial statistics and GIS, we estimated census tract-level rates of COVID-19, which are not yet available in Colorado, and mapped areas of high and low incidence risk. We also developed composite indices that characterized social and health vulnerabilities to measure multivariate associations with COVID-19 rates. The findings revealed hotspots of persistent risk in mountain communities since the pandemic emerged in Colorado, as well as clusters of risk in the Urban Front Range’s central and southern counties, and across many parts of eastern Colorado. Vulnerability analyses indicate that COVID-19 rates were associated with mental health and chronic conditions along with social determinants that represent inequities in education, income, healthcare access, and race/ethnicity (minority percent of population), which may have disproportionately exposed some communities more than others to infection and severe health outcomes. Overall, the findings provide geographic health information about COVID-19 and vulnerability context, which may better inform local decision-making for interventions and policies that support equity of social determinants of health. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2021.2021382 .

A Study on the Impact of Unconventional (and Conventional) Drilling on Housing Prices in Central Oklahoma

Shale energy development activity may benefit some aspects of a regional economy (such as increased jobs or tax revenue); however, there may also be negative impacts to the local environment, such as noise and underground water contamination. We study the impact of unconventional drilling activity on housing price in an area of the country with a long history of crude oil production. A prospective home buyer may want to avoid a place near sites that have been drilled using unconventional drill technologies such as horizontal fracturing. Adopting a hedonic price model, we estimate the impact of distance to and density of unconventional drilling on housing prices in two central counties in Oklahoma during the period 2001–2016. We also apply a semiparametric approach to deal with the possibility that the relationship between an environmental pollutant source and housing price is nonlinear. The empirical results are consistent in terms of physical housing characteristics and locational aspects in all cases, with drilling activity having only a minimal effect in benchmark models. Further, the semiparametric estimation results support the findings that drilling activity has only limited impacts on local housing prices.

Land subsidence and aquifer compaction in Montgomery County, Texas, U.S.: 2000\u20132020

Groundwater-withdrawal-induced land subsidence has been a big concern in Montgomery County, Texas, U.S. since the 2000s. As of 2020, approximately half of the entire county is experiencing subsidence over 5 mm/year. This study aims to investigate ongoing land subsidence in Montgomery County using groundwater-level, extensometer, and GPS datasets. According to this study, land subsidence in Montgomery County since the mid-2000s is primarily contributed by sediment compaction in the Evangeline and Jasper aquifers; the compaction of Jasper aquifer contributes approximately one-third of the land subsidence since the mid-2000s; the pre-consolidation heads of the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in Montgomery County are close to each other, approximately 15–25 m below mean sea level; the virgin-compaction/head-decline ratio is approximately 1:250 in the Evangeline aquifer and 1:800 in the Jasper aquifer in central and southern Montgomery County. As of 2020, the Jasper groundwater-level altitude is approximately 20–40 m below the pre-consolidation head in the central and southern Montgomery County; the Evangeline groundwater-level altitude is about 40–60 m below the pre-consolidation head. Land subsidence will continue to occur as long as the groundwater-level altitude in either the Evangeline or the Jasper aquifer remains below the pre-consolidation head.

First report of Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus infecting cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) in Texas.

Texas is a major producer of cucurbits such as cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.), but outbreaks of virus-like diseases often adversely affect yields. Little is known about the identity of the causal or associated viruses. During studies conducted in fall 2020 to explore the virome of cucurbit fields in Texas, a commercial cantaloupe field (~4.1 ha) in Cameron County was observed with virus-like symptoms of interveinal chlorotic mottle and foliar chlorosis and disease incidence was estimated at 100%. Virus-like symptoms including mosaic and leaf curl were also observed in six additional fields across five south and central Texas counties of Atascosa, Hidalgo, Fort Bend, Frio, and Wharton. Forty-six plants, which included 32 symptomatic and 14 non-symptomatic, were sampled from these fields for virus diagnosis and each sample was subjected to total nucleic acid extraction according to Dellaporta et. al. (1983). Initially, equal amounts of nucleic acids from 14 symptomatic plants (two/field) were pooled into one composite sample for preliminary diagnosis by high throughput sequencing (HTS). The cDNA library obtained from the composite sample with a TruSeq Stranded Total RNA with Ribo-Zero Plant Kit (Illumina) was sequenced on the Illumina NextSeq 500 platform, generating ~26.3 M single-end HTS reads (75 nucleotides [nt] each). Analyses of the reads according to Al Rwahnih et al. (2018) revealed several virus-like contigs; among them 23 contigs (206 to 741 nt) shared 98 to 100% nt identities to isolates of cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae. Three pairs of CCYV-specific primers were designed from the HTS contigs with primers CCYV-v1330: 5'-AGTCCCTTACCCTGAGATGAA/CCYV-c2369: 5'-CGGAGCATTCGACAACTGAATA targeting ~1 kb fragment of the ORF1a (RNA1), primers CCYV-v4881: 5'-ATAAGGCGGCGACCTAATC/CCYV-c5736: 5'-GATCACTTGACCATCTCCTTCT targeting a ~0.9 kb fragment encompassing the coat protein (CP) cistron of CCYV (RNA2), and primers CCYV-v6362: 5'-CACCTCTTCCAGAACCAGTTAAA/CCYV-c7423: 5'-TGGGAACAACTTATTTCTCCTAGC targeting ~1 kb spanning partial minor coat protein (CPm) and p26 sequences (RNA2). Total nucleic acid extracts of each of the 46 samples from the seven fields were tested by two-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using all three CCYV-specific primer pairs and they yielded amplicons of expected sizes from all five symptomatic cantaloupe samples from the Cameron County field and one additional symptomatic butternut squash sample from a field in Hidalgo County. The DNA bands from three randomly chosen cantaloupe samples were cloned and sequenced as previously described (Oke et al. 2020). In pairwise comparisons, the obtained 1,040 nt ORF1a (MW584332-334), 753 nt complete CP (MW584335-337), and 1,062 nt CPm/p26 (MW584338-340) gene specific sequences from the three samples shared 100% nt identity with each other, and 99-100% nt identities with corresponding RNA1 (AB523788) and RNA2 (AB523788) sequences of the exemplar isolate of CCYV. This is the first report of CCYV in Texas, thus expanding the current geographical range of the virus in the U.S. that includes California (Wintermantel et al. 2019) and Georgia (Kavalappara et al. 2021). The abundance of whiteflies of the Bemisia tabaci species complex in south Texas and other major U.S. cucurbit production areas presents additional challenges to virus disease management.

Association of hospital factors and socioeconomic status with the utilization of minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer over a decade.

Surgical resection is a mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been shown to have improved outcomes compared to open procedures for colorectal malignancy. While use of MIS has been increasing, there remains large variability in its implementation at the hospital and patient level. The purpose of this study was to identify disparities in sex, race, location, patient income status, insurance status, hospital region, bed size and teaching status for the use of MIS in the treatment of CRC. This was a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database. Between 2008 and 2017, there were 412,292 hospitalizations of adult patients undergoing elective colectomy for CRC. The primary outcome was use of MIS during hospitalization. Overall, the frequency of open colectomies was higher than MIS (56.56% vs. 43.44%). Black patients were associated with decreased odds of MIS use during hospitalization compared to White patients (OR 0.921, p = 0.0011). As the county population where patients resided decreased, odds of MIS also significantly decreased as compared to central counties of metropolitan areas. As income decreased below the reference of $71,000, odds of MIS also significantly decreased. Medicaid and uninsured patients had decreased odds of MIS use during hospitalization compared to private insurance (OR 0.751, p < 0.0001 and OR 0.629, p < 0.0001 respectively). Rural and urban non-teaching hospitals were associated with decreased odds of MIS as compared to urban teaching hospitals (OR 0.523, p < 0.0001 and OR 0.837, p < 0.0001 respectively). Hospitals with a small bed size were also associated with decreased MIS during hospitalizations (OR 0.888, p < 0.0001). Marked hospital level and socioeconomic disparities exist for utilization of MIS for colorectal cancer. Strategies targeted at reducing these gaps have the potential to improve surgical outcomes and cancer survival.

Effect of Head Teachers’ Leadership Style on Teacher Performance in Public Primary Schools in Turkana Central Sub County, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to establish the effects of head teacher leadership styles on teacher performance in public primary schools. Despite measures taken to capacity build head teachers in leadership and management, teachers have cried foul at the delivery of leadership styles used by their head teachers. Performance of public primary schools in Kenya has been inconsistent due to the inability of teachers to record better performance and also inability of head teachers to sufficiently utilize leadership styles which may be hypothesized as being a hindrance to teacher performance. A causal-comparative research design was employed for the study.Stratified random sampling technique was applied to select 177 teachers and 44 head teachers. Data was collected using questionnaire and document Analysis guide. The obtained data was analyzed using means, percentages and frequencies; hypotheseswere tested using ANOVA.The results showed that there was significant relationship between leadership style and performance of teachers in public primary schools in Turkana Central Sub County. The style adopted by the head teacher defined the school’s work and social culture in the school, which in turn influence the teachers’ commitment to work and to the school activities.

Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on Influence of Packaging Postharvest Handling Technology on Quality of Tomatoes in Kisii and Nyamira Counties, Kenya

Reduction of damages, retention of quality of fresh horticultural produce as well as protection against mechanical damages is due to proper packaging. The study aimed at assessing perceptions of smallholder farmers on influence of packaging postharvest handling technologies on quality of tomatoes in the counties of Kisii and Nyamira. The study objective was to assess perceptions of smallholder farmers on influence of postharvest handling methods of packaging on quality of tomatoes in Kisii and Nyamira Counties. The research used descriptive survey research design, multistage sampling technique, purposive sampling to sample counties of Kisii and Nyamira, simple random sampling to sample three sub counties of Kisii Central, Bomachoge Borabu and Borabu Sub Counties. A total of 168 registered smallholder farmers from a target population of 1001 were sampled. Extension officers from Kisii Central, Kenyenya and Borabu were contacted and informed on the purpose of the interview, importance of data in research and the need to respond truthfully to ensure that data collected is reliable. The semi-structured questionnaire was administered to smallholder tomato farmers. Descriptive statistics was analyzed in the form of percentages, means and standard deviation and presented in the form of tables and charts. Inferential statistics was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20 software. Pearson’s Correlation was used to show the relationships between the variables of dependent and independent with results revealing that methods of packaging had weak positive influence on postharvest quality of tomatoes (r=.286, p&lt;.05). Therefore, necessity to sensitize smallholder farmers on principles of proper packaging of tomato for quality delivery to the market.

The mediating effect of consumers’ price level perception and emotions towards supermarkets

PurposeThis study aims to reveal the impact of consumers’ price sensitivity on their purchase intention within the scope of supermarkets. Besides, the study aims to examine the impact of consumers’ price sensitivity on their price perception level and emotions and the impact of consumers’ price level perception and emotions toward supermarkets on their purchase intention. It also aims to detect the mediating effects of consumers’ price level perception and emotions toward supermarkets between their price sensitivity and purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachThe quota sampling method was used to form the study sample. The population was 20–69-year-old consumers. The study sample included 513 consumers, 276 of whom were men, and 237 of whom were women. Data were collected via a questionnaire by the researchers in Mersin’s (Turkey) five central counties. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation models were used to analyze data.FindingsConsumers’ price sensitivity, perception of cheapness, perception of expensiveness and positive emotions toward supermarkets affect their purchase intention. Besides, price sensitivity affects their perception of cheapness while it does not affect their perception of expensiveness. It influences negative emotions, but not on positive emotions. Consumers’ perception of cheapness and perception of expensiveness have impacts on positive emotions toward supermarkets. It was additionally discovered that perception of cheapness and perception of expensiveness affected negative emotions toward supermarkets. A contributed finding was that perception of cheapness had a partial mediating role between price sensitivity and purchase intention.Practical implicationsThe study provides managerial implications in terms of understanding consumers’ behavioral changes, developing effective pricing strategies and achieving competitive advantages over the other retailing companies.Originality/valueThe study illustrates that consumer behavior can be explained by a theoretical construct considering the price perception levels and emotions toward supermarkets in examining the effect of consumers’ price sensitivity on their purchase intention. Therefore, it contributes to explain consumers’ behavior by bringing the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model into a theoretical construct.

Glacial and periglacial geomorphology of central Troms and Finnmark county, Arctic Norway

ABSTRACT Here we present a glacial and periglacial geomorphological map of a ∼6800 km2 region of central Troms and Finnmark county, Arctic Norway. The map is presented at a 1:115,000 scale with the aim of characterising the spatial distribution of glacial and periglacial landforms and facilitating the reconstruction of the glacial history of the region during the latter stages of deglaciation from the Last Glacial Maximum and into the Holocene. Mapping was conducted predominantly by manual digitisation of landforms using a combination of Sentinel-2A/2B satellite imagery (10 m pixel resolution), vertical aerial photographs (<1 m pixel resolution), and Digital Elevation Models (10 and 2 m pixel resolution). Over 20,000 individual features have been mapped and include moraines (subdivided into major and minor moraines), ridges within areas of discrete debris accumulations (DDAs), flutings, eskers, irregular mounded terrain, lineations, glacially streamlined bedrock, possible glacially streamlined terrain, pronival ramparts, rock glaciers (subdivided into valley wall and valley floor, and rock glacierised moraines), lithalsas, contemporary glaciers and lakes. The map records several noteworthy large moraine assemblages within individual valleys, forming inset sequences from pre-Younger Dryas limits up to the 2018/19 ice margins and represents a valuable dataset for reconstructing Holocene glacial and periglacial activity.