bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Savings and asset allocation of households in Uganda
Authors: Kiiza Barnabas , Pederson Glenn D.
Published: June 2010

The Government of Uganda has put in place the Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture as part of its poverty reduction program. That program incorporates the improvement of households’ access to formal financial services as one of its main components. To examine the program, this study uses primary data to determine the savings and portfolio allocation behavior of households with and without access to formal financial services. Findings reveal no significant difference between both types of households in the marginal propensity to save out of long‐run income. The precautionary demand for liquidity and the desire to avoid risk are important factors shown to influence portfolio allocation decisions by households.
Introducing inventory credit into Nigerien agriculture: improving technology diffusion
Authors: Baquedano Felix G. , Sanders John H.
Published: June 2010

A critical component of agriculture in developing countries is increasing soil fertility in response to depleted soils and declining crop yields. An inventory credit program was introduced in western Niger to generate savings for farmers’ groups to facilitate the purchase of inorganic fertilizers. This program is compared with a more traditional inventory credit program, which provides credit at harvest but lets farmers sell their grain in the post‐harvest period after grain prices have recovered. The evaluation of the two programs for their impacts on farmers’ incomes and farm‐level technology adoption is undertaken with a linear programming model. The decision‐making framework of this model comes from interviews of farmers in a number of African countries. Farmers are found to be risk averse, but exhibit a different type of decision making than the usual expected income‐income variability tradeoff.
Agricultural production credit clubs in Armenia: facilitating investment through market linkages, social capital, and microcredit
Authors: Gow Hamish R. , Shanoyan Aleksan , Abrahamyan Lilya , Alesksandryan Mariana
Published: June 2010

Armenia’s 1991 privatization and land redistribution process handed ownership and control of agricultural production to over 300,000 inexperienced, financially distressed, subsistence farmers operating extremely small fragmented plots, and the processing sector to similarly distressed managers. As seen elsewhere across Eastern Europe, the result was chaotic turmoil characterized by pervasive delayed payments, massive disinvestment, and rapid output declines. However, unlike elsewhere, Armenia could not rely upon the entry of FDI to correct channel incentives and revitalize its agricultural and rural financial markets. Instead, an alternative exogenous stimulus was required. This study analyzes the instrumental case of how a quasi‐public third party, the USDA Market Assistance Program and Agricultural Production Credit Clubs, successfully imitated FDI‐induced incentive structures through market linkages, social capital, and microcredit to establish economically sustainable marketing channels. The findings provide important insights into the design of market‐linked microcredit programs.
Factors affecting the agricultural loan decision‐making process
Authors: Featherstone Allen M. , Wilson Christine A. , Kastens Terry L. , Jones John D.
Published: June 2010

Agricultural lenders in today’s environment face many challenges when evaluating the creditworthiness of farm borrowers. To address these challenges, a survey was conducted with financial institutions in Kansas and Indiana where agricultural lenders were asked for their responses to hypothetical agricultural loan requests. Each loan request differed by the borrower’s character, financial record keeping, productive standing, Fair Isaac credit bureau score, and credit risk. Lenders provided information about themselves and their financial institutions. The survey data obtained determine the relative importance of financial and nonfinancial information when analyzing agricultural loan applications. Tobit models are estimated to identify the borrower and lender characteristics that are important in determining loan approval, while OLS models are used to investigate the factors that affect interest rates offered to farm borrowers. The results offer a comparison of agricultural lending between two important agricultural states and provide lenders with insight on the factors that influence the decision‐making process of other agricultural lenders.
FSA direct loan targeting: successful and financially necessary?
Authors: Nwoha O. John , Ahrendsen Bruce L. , Dixon Bruce L. , Settlage Daniel M. , Chavez Eddie C.
Published: June 2010

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct farm loan program provides credit to family‐sized farms including those operated by beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged applicants. Approximately 37% of all U.S. farms are estimated to be eligible for FSA direct loans when farm size, credit needs, farming experience, and occupation are taken into account. However, market penetration rates for various borrower cohorts range from 0.8% to 4.6% for FY 2000S2003. In general, beginning farmers have weaker financial characteristics than non‐beginning farmers. Yet, the same result is not found when comparing socially disadvantaged farmers with non‐socially disadvantaged farmers, such that there are few significant differences or the differences in financial characteristics are mixed. Overall, results indicate FSA direct farm loan borrowers have weaker financial characteristics than eligible, non‐FSA direct farm loan borrowers, implying FSA is serving farmers likely to be denied credit by commercial lenders.
Evaluation of risk management alternatives for indiana grain producers
Authors: Rios Ana R. , Patrick George F.
Published: June 2010

Crop insurance and pre‐harvest pricing strategies were analyzed for “all years” and “years following a normal crop year” scenarios for the 1986 through 2001 period in three Indiana counties. Crop insurance products and early spring pre‐harvest marketing generally had positive returns for producers. A large number of strategies provided higher mean revenues, higher 5 per cent values‐at‐risk, and higher certainty equivalents than the benchmark strategy. Although pre‐harvest marketing strategies had the highest certainty equivalents in both scenarios, net farm revenues were lower and crop insurance combined with pre‐harvest pricing were common among top‐ranked strategies following normal crop years.
Off‐farm income and farm capital accumulation: a farm‐level analysis
Authors: Lagerkvist Carl J. , Larsen Karin , Olson Kent D.
Published: June 2010

An intertemporal model in which farm capital accumulation and work choices by a single‐agent farm household are interdependent is developed and tested using a farm‐level data set. Estimation is done using a recursive two‐step simultaneous censored equations model. The results of this study are of relevance for an understanding of structural change within the agricultural sector as they point toward the emergence of a dual farming structure and rigidity in off‐farm work adjustments. Our findings suggest that off farm income reliance is associated with a farm asset disinvestment strategy, that there is rigidity in off farm income reliance, and that factors explaining farm capital growth indirectly affect the off farm reliance.
Marginal impact of sales consultant visits and financing opportunities on adoption of variable‐rate fertilizer application
Authors: Nganje William E. , Friedrichsen Mary S. , Gustafson Cole R. , McKee Gregory
Published: June 2010

Precision agriculture has been practiced since the early 1990s, but the adoption rate of this technology has been slower than experts had predicted. This study explores the role of public‐ and private‐sector financial assistance in the adoption of variable‐rate fertilizer application. Public‐ and private‐sector financial assistance are modeled to show the marginal impacts of changes in the traditional flow of government assistance, sales consultant visits, and financial risk. Results indicate that deviation from traditional Aone stop shopping@ has a negative and significant impact on the adoption of alternative fertilizer application technology. However, sales consultant visits, in conjunction with conservation and environmental quality incentive programs and the availability of financing opportunities, significantly favor the adoption of variable‐rate fertilizer application. Changes in business risk produced opposite movements in financial risk to facilitate increased adoption of variable‐rate fertilizer application technologies.
Producers’ preferences for round number prices
Authors: Klumpp Joni M. , Wade Brorsen B. , Anderson Kim B.
Published: June 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine if a preference for round prices exists in the wheat market and how wheat sales react to price movements around whole‐dollar amounts. The results show round prices are slightly more prevalent than non round prices, and transactions increase when price moves above a whole‐dollar amount. While such predictable behavior could be exploited by speculators in other markets, the effect is not large enough to merit concern in the market studied here.
Modeling agricultural production risk and the adaptation to climate change
Authors: Finger Robert , Schmid Stéphanie
Published: June 2010

An approach that integrates biophysical simulations in an economic model is used to analyze the impact of climate change on Swiss corn and winter wheat production. Adaptation options such as changes in sowing dates, changes in production intensity, and the adoption of irrigation farming are considered in the model. By carrying out sensitivity analysis with different scenarios, we find farmers’ adaptation actions and crop yeilds to be very sensitive to both climate change and output prices. Moreover, our model results show that simple adaptation measures are sufficient to generate higher and less variable crop yields in the future.
Revisiting the demand for agricultural insurance: the case of Spain
Authors: Garrido Alberto , Zilberman David
Published: June 2010

This paper seeks to characterize the factors that explain crop insurance participation. A stylized model of insurance demand, with a simple setup of one crop. CARA preferences, yield insurance, and PDfs for revenue and yeild with moment‐generating functions, provides a number of hypotheses about the incentives to contract crop insurance. In the empirical model, we use the actual insurance records of 41,660 Spanish farmers and 12 years of data to estimate six probit models for the insuring versus non‐insuring choice, based on individual loss ratios and the dispersion of indemnities, together with idiosyncratic and geographical variables. Results suggest that adverse selection is not a major source of inefficiency in the Spanish insurance system, nor is it the primary motivation to contract crop insurance. Premium subsidies are the leading factor that increases the probability of using insurance. Conclusions are applicable to very diverse farms in Spain.
Basis risk and weather hedging effectiveness
Authors: Woodard Joshua D. , Garcia Philip
Published: June 2010

Basis risk – the risk that payoffs of a hedging instrument do not correspond to the underlying exposures – is cited as a primary concern for implementing weather data, we investigate several dimensions of weather basis risk in the U.S. corn market. Results suggest that while geographic basis risk can be significant, it should not preclude the use of geographic cross‐hedging, particularly with temperature as opposed to precipitation derivatives. Risk reduction is appreciable and the degree to which geographic basis risk impedes effective hedging diminishes as spatial aggregation in the risk exposure and hedging instrument increases.
Creating insurance markets for natural disaster risk in lower income countries: the potential role for securitization
Authors: Skees Jerry R. , Barnett Barry J. , Murphy Anne G.
Published: June 2010

This article considers the potential for securitizing index‐based insurance products that transfer weather and natural disaster risks from lower income countries. It begins with a brief overview explaining why markets for natural disaster risks are important, yet often missing, in lower income countries and a review of some recent activities using index‐based weather insurance. Next, we describe how natural disaster risks are handled in higher income countries. These examples, along with the example of an innovative index‐based livestock insurance pilot project in Mongolia, illustrate how layers, or tranches, of natural disaster risk can be financed during the product development phase by creating structures similar to the Special Purpose Vehicles used in catastrophe bond, mortgage bond, and the emerging microfinance bond markets. We refer to these investment alternatives as micro‐CAT bonds since the principle amounts would be small relative to the existing CAT bond market.
Credit risk rating migration and unobserved borrower heterogeneity
Authors: Stokes Jeffrey R. , Dressler Jonathan B. , Balasubramanyan Lakshmi
Published: June 2010

Some past studies of credit risk ratings migration have found trend reversals and evidence that the data‐generating process is nonstationary. Using a sample of Farm Credit System mortgages, we find no compelling statistical evidence of either phenomenon. We do find evidence that our sample of loans may be characterized by two types of borrowers – namely, movers and stayers. This type of borrower heterogeneity is unobserved because movers who do not migrate are indistinguishable from stayers who never migrate. We report on the development of a flexible nonparametric model for estimating transition probabilities. The model can also be used to estimate nonstationary transition probabilities and an example is provided.
Who is credit constrained? evidence from rural Malawi
Authors: Simtowe Franklin , Diagne Aliou , Zeller Manfred
Published: June 2010

Using data from Malawi, this paper examines factors that influence a household’s likelihood of facing credit constraints. Households with larger land holdings have a higher probability of reporting credit constraints, apparently due to lack of secure land rights which could enable households to use land as collateral when borrowing. Households with a greater number of active male adults are also more likely to report credit constraints.
Dynamic incentive with nonfinancing threat and social sanction in rural credit markets
Authors: Tran Nguyen Kien , Kakinaka Makoto
Published: June 2010

This paper analyzes an individual lending credit market in a rural society, where potential borrowers have a dynamic incentive of strategic default, and a benevolent lender gives them a credible threat to cut future credit when loands are not repaid. A crucial issue is that social sanction of default depends on the default rate in the society. Our analysis suggests that for a relatively small financing cost, a credit market exists where borrowers have little motivation to default voluntarily, associated with intense social sanctions. The results also reveal that a relatively large financing cost causes the credit market to collapse, since it raises motivation of default, associated with less intense social sanctions. These results could justify government support to reduce the lender’s financing cost. The model further illustrates the plausibility of two equilibria: a low default rate associated with a low lending rate and intense social sanctions, and a high default rate with a high lending rate and less intense social sanctions. This could explain the possibility that the default rate is different from village to village even though these societies seem to share an almost identical environment.
Earnings, accruals, cash flows, and EBITDA for agribusiness firms
Authors: Omar Trejo‐Pech Carlos , Weldon Richard N. , House Lisa A.
Published: June 2010

This study examines empirical relationships of earnings, accruals, and cash flows for the U.S. food supply chain sector (i.e., agribusiness) and compares them with results for the complete U.S. market. In addition, we evaluate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) as a potential proxy for cash flow. Empirical results show that while earnings and accruals are systematically positively related, accruals and cash flows are systematically negatively related. Moreover, both the magnitude and the behavior of EBITDA across different levels of cash flows for agribusinesses do not mimic cash flows. Thus, this metric is not a valid proxy for cash flow in accrual research studies.
An Excel‐based decision aid for evaluating financing alternatives and the marginal cost of capital
Authors: Stokes Jeffrey R. , Harper Jayson K.
Published: June 2010

For agricultural businesses, managing debt capital means choosing from among myriad sources and terms for financing for inputs, machinery, equipment, and land. Providers of debt capital, including input suppliers, equipment dealers, commercial banks, and the Farm Credit System, offer differing interest rates, rebates, points and other non‐interest costs. Microsoft Excel™‐based financing decision aids were developed to help agricultural decision makers evaluate options by determining the true cost of capital from supplier financing, machinery and equipment financing, and real estate purchases. These same tools were also used as a teaching aid in senior‐level university courses in farm management and agricultural finance to reinforce agricultural cost of capital concepts.
Using farm consumption data to estimate the intertemporal elasticity of substitution and relative risk aversion coefficients
Authors: Abdulkadri Abdullahi O. , Langemeier Michael R.
Published: June 2010

A farm household consumption model based on the life‐cycle permanent income hypothesis (LPIH) has been specified and the Euler equations derived in this analysis. Estimation of the of the Euler equations using farm household consumption data provided estimates for the intertemporal elasticity of substitution and the coefficient of relative risk aversion. These parameters differ among the farm enterprises in which the households were engaged. Estimates for the intertemporal elasticity of substitution and the coefficient of relative risk aversion ranged from 0.158 to 0.351 and from 2.849 to 6.329, respectively. Results also provide further evidence that the LPIH is valid for modeling farm household consumption.
Economic risk and the structural characteristics of farm businesses
Authors: Barry Peter J. , Escalante Cesar L. , Bard Sharon K.
Published: June 2010

This study uses farm‐level data from the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association to determine whether the variability of net farm income is significantly influenced by farm size, financial structure, and other structural characteristics of farm businesses. The econometric results indicate that under a cross‐sectional model the relative variability of real net farm income is not significantly influenced by farm size, measured either by acreage or value of farm production. However, under a time‐series/cross‐section model, periodic variations in farm size, along with differences in the relative crop price received, crop yield, degree of enterprise diversification, and geographic location, can significantly influence changes in farm income variability.
Farmland lease decisions in a life‐cycle model
Authors: Boumtje Pierre I. , Barry Peter J. , Ellinger Paul N.
Published: June 2010

Optimization procedures are used to investigate economic motivations of farmland lease arrangements in an intertemporal setting and to explore linkages among lease contracts, risk, and time attitudes, and their impact on farm performance. The model solutions suggest farm businesses can be effectively analyzed in a life‐cycle model in which farmland tenure, production, financing, and investment decisions are jointly optimized. The operator’s degree of risk aversion and time attitudes are shown to affect farm business decisions and performance.
Crop insurance, disaster assistance, and the role of the federal government in providing catastrophic risk protection
Authors: Glauber Joseph W. , Collins Keith J. , Barry Peter J.
Published: June 2010

Since 1980, the principal form of crop loss assistance in the United States has been provided through the Federal Crop Insurance Program. The Federal Crop Insurance Act of 1980 was intended to replace disaster programs with a subsidized insurance program that farmers could depend on in the event of crop losses. Crop insurance was seen as preferable to disaster assistance because it was less costly and hence could be provided to more producers, was less likely to encourage moral hazard, and less likely to encourage producers to plant crops on marginal lands. Despite substantial growth in the program, the crop insurance program has failed to replace other disaster programs as the sole form of assistance. Over the past 20 years, producers received an estimated $15 billion in supplemental disaster payments in addition to $22 billion in crop insurance indemnities.
The role of ex ante regulations in addressing problems of moral hazard in agricultural insurance
Authors: Turvey Calum G. , Hoy Michael , Islam Zahirul
Published: June 2010

We develop a theoretical model of input use by agricultural producers who purchase crop insurance, and thus may engage in moral hazard. Through simulations, our findings show a combination of partial insurance coverage and partial monitoring of inputs may reduce substantially the problems associated with moral hazard. The minimum level of input use that must be required by regulation is determined to be substantially lower than the optimal or actual input level chosen by producers. Because the use of inputs for crop production occurs in many stages over the pre‐planting, planting, and growing seasons, only a minimal input requirement is needed. Thus, the cost of implementing such a regulation can be kept much lower than would be the case for a regulation of complete monitoring of input usage.
An assessment of risk management strategies for grain growers in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Ke Bingfan , Holly Wang H.
Published: June 2010

Due to the low crop insurance participation by grain growers in the Pacific Northwest, the performance of insurance programs and the futures market is assessed in this area. Revenue insurance, combined with the futures and government programs, is identified as the optimal risk management portfolio. Although yield risk level, decision maker’s risk preference, and actuarial fairness of premiums can all affect farmers’ choices, the current subsidy policy is most influential. The varying subsidy levels induce farmers’ subsidy‐seeking incentive and suppress the risk‐reducing incentive. There is little diversification effect from growing two crops in the rotation instead of one.
Vertical diversification in the pork industry: a portfolio theory approach
Authors: Buhr Brian
Published: June 2010

Markowitz’s mean‐variance approach is used to identify the returns to vertical investment in the pork industry. In addition to previous efforts, this paper considers not only returns to stock ownership, but uses operating return on investment in pork slaughter and hog production to evaluate the impacts of vertical investment within the industry segment. Results suggest there are indeed diversification incentives for vertical investment in the pork industry. However, results do differ for vertical direct investment versus investment through stock ownership.
Systemic risk in U.S. crop reinsurance programs
Authors: Mason Chuck , Hayes Dermot J. , Lence Sergio H.
Published: June 2010

This study develops a method to estimate the probability density function of the Federal Risk Management Agency’s (RMA’s) net income from reinsuring crop insurance for corn, wheat, and soybeans. When calibrated using 1997 data, results from the advocated method show that in 1997 there was a 5% probability RMA would have had to reimburse at least $1 billion to insurance companies, and the fair value of RMA’s insurance services to insurance firms in 1997 was $78.7 million.
Adoption of crop versus revenue insurance: a farm‐level analysis
Authors: Mishra Ashok K. , Goodwin Barry K.
Published: June 2010

This research examines factors influencing the adoption of crop and revenue insurance. This is accomplished by estimating a multinomial logit model of insurance choices facing U.S. farmers. Results indicate significant differences in the probabilities of adoption of each insurance plan. The levels of selected explanatory variables, such as operator’s education level, debt‐to‐asset ratio, off‐farm income, soil productivity, participation in production and marketing contracts, and type of farm ownership, appear to be the determinants of the probability of having adopted each insurance plan.
Financial management practices and farm profitability
Authors: Gloy Brent A. , LaDue Eddy L.
Published: June 2010

The adoption of several basic financial management practices is examined for a group of New York dairy farms. The study provides estimates of the extent to which various business analysis and control, investment analysis and decision making, and capital acquisition practices have been adopted. Many practices, such as net present value analysis, are not widely adopted by farmers. The relationship between the adoption of financial management practices and farm profitability is also examined. Results suggest that the adoption of financial management practices, such as using investment analysis techniques, significantly impacts farm financial performance.
Explaining county‐level variability in farm service agency farm loan programs
Authors: Dodson Charles B. , Koenig Steven R.
Published: June 2010

USDA direct and guaranteed farm loan programs exhibit significant geographical variation in lending activity. County‐level estimations made using Tobit procedures indicate that use of Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm loan programs is greater in counties with lower per capita income and regions experiencing greater farm financial stress. Use of direct FSA loan programs was lower in counties with fewer private‐sector lenders. Guarantee loan program usage was found to decline when commercial agricultural lenders are absent from the county. FSA loan programs were more highly utilized in counties with an FSA loan service center and in states receiving greater FSA farm loan funding in past years.
Determinants of investments in non‐farm assets by farm households
Authors: Serra Teresa , Goodwin Barry K. , Featherstone Allen M.
Published: June 2010

Off‐farm investment decisions of farm households are analyzed. Farm‐level data for a sample of Kansas farms observed from 1994 through 2000 are utilized. A system of censored dependent variable models is estimated to investigate the factors that influence the composition of farm households’ portfolios. The central question underlying the analysis is whether farm income variability influences off‐farm investment decisions. Previous analyses on the determinants of non‐farm investments have failed to consider the role of income variability. Results of this study indicate that higher farm income fluctuations increase the relevance of non‐farm assets in the farm household portfolio, thus suggesting these assets are used as farm household income risk management tools.
Nutritional evaluation of Ficus thonningii‐Panicum maximum mixtures in West African dwarf goats
Authors: Adungbe Bamikole Musibau , Julius Ikhatua Uamai
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The realization of the importance of browse in meeting the nutritional needs of ruminants in the dry season in the tropics has put a serious pressure on the already known browse plants. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the nutritive value of Ficus thonningii (FT), which is a less known fodder tree.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 25 West African dwarf goats (age range = 7‐9 months, live weight range = 5.0‐7.5 kg) were used for the study, and lasted for 98 days. FT was fed with Panicum maximum (PM) grass in different proportions of 0:100 (only grass), 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 (only Ficus) to five groups of goats. A completely randomized design was used to collect data on feed intake, digestibility, weight gain and nitrogen utilization.

Findings

Results showed that FT is higher in crude protein (CP) (20.51 per cent) and lower in neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (55.79 per cent) than PM (CP = 8.25 per cent, NDF = 76.16 per cent). Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), CP intakes (g/d/kg w0.75) improved significantly with more FT in the diet and were best in 75 per cent FT (values = 79.84, 76.72 and 14.78, respectively) and lowest in solely PM (corresponding values = 21.06, 18.21 and 1.59). Weight gain (g/d) patterned nutrient intake and were best in 50 and 75 per cent FT (mean = 14.78) and least in solely PM (5.36). Digestibility values were generally good, but highest in 50 per cent FT, similar in 25, 75 and 100 per cent FT and least in solely PM. Nitrogen balance (g/d) and retention (per cent) were highest and similar in both 50 and 75 per cent FT (mean = 4.8 and 48.79) and lowest in solely grass (0.24 and 14.25).

Practical implications

FT displays no practical limitations to its utilization in ruminant feeding and could be used solely or in mixture with grass.

Original/value

Being well consumed and utilized even as sole forage, FT will be a good insurance in alleviating feed scarcity problem for ruminant animals in the dry season.
Assessing the home food environment nutrient supply using mobile barcode (Universal Product Code) scanning technology
Authors: Byrd‐Bredbenner Carol , Bredbenner Carl A.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Mobile Universal Product Code (UPC), or barcode, scanning technology provides an efficient, accurate and comprehensive method for conducting home food inventories intended to describe the household's nutrient supply. However, heretofore this technology has had limited use in research because of equipment and software complexities. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to describe a data collection system that overcame these complexities.

Design/methodology/approach

A data collection system was developed that utilized off‐the‐shelf barcode scanners and laptop computers running commercial diet analysis software modified to use two large databases linking UPCs with nutrient data in addition to usual data sources (e.g. USDA Standard Reference). This system was designed for use at the data collection site to ensure 100 percent verification that scanned UPCs on food packages matched database foods and make corrections as needed. This system also permitted researchers to capture the presence of foods lacking standard UPCs (e.g. fresh produce) using a keyword search. To ensure that all data were collected uniformly and new foods not in the original database were added to the database in the same fashion, a protocol flowchart consisting of a series of branching “yes/no” questions was developed and applied to each food of interest in the household.

Findings

The system was used to conduct household food inventories of 160 families with widely varying socioeconomic strata and races/ethnicities. Households had between 13 and 389 foods on hand, the vast majority of which were identified by standard UPCs. The average inventory took approximately two hours. Study participants expressed interest in the data collection method and were very cooperative.

Practical implications

Home food inventories conducted by researchers are objective and help minimize reporting errors and social desirability bias; however, the cost (e.g. researcher time, equipment, software, and database licensing) of conducting home food inventories, even using mobile UPC scanning technology, is important to consider. To improve access to databases linking UPCs and nutrients, collaborative links between researchers and industry are needed.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to demonstrate the feasibility of using mobile barcode scanning technology to conduct home food inventories on a large‐scale basis and solve the technical problems associated with this data collection methodology.
Enhancing stability of lactic acid bacteria and probiotics by Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus in fermented milks
Authors: Liu Shao‐Quan , Tsao Marlene
Published: June 2010

Purpose

There is a need to improve stability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotics in fermented milks especially at elevated temperatures. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of yeast Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus on stability of LAB and probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus in fermented milks.

Design/methodology/approach

Fermented milks were made from reconstituted whole milk with different milk solids contents. The milk was fermented with L. rhamnosus DR20 with and without yoghurt cultures. The treatment had yeast added, whereas the control did not. Fermented milks were incubated at different temperatures and samples were taken regularly for microbial count determination.

Findings

The effect of the yeast on stability of L. bulgaricus and L. rhamnosus varied with temperatures: no effect at 4 and 40 ○C, increasing effects from 10 to 30 ○C with enhanced lactobacilli survival by 102 to 107‐fold. The yeast enhanced L. bulgaricus and L. rhamnosus stability by approximately 106 to 107‐fold in fermented milks with 5 per cent w/v and 20 per cent w/v milk solids at 30 ○C.

Research limitations/implications

Use of live yeast has limitations. The yeast must not ferment lactose and galactose, and fermentable sugars cannot be used as sweeteners to avoid yeast growth. Further understanding of the interaction between yeast and LAB may eliminate the need to add viable yeast.

Originality/value

Use of yeast to enhance stability of LAB and probiotics is a novel concept. Addition of selected yeast could be an effective means of enhancing stability of LAB and probiotics in fermented milks to extend shelf‐life and to retain nutritional value.
Comparative consumer acceptability and food utilization analysis of three maize varieties
Authors: Martins J.L. , Jideani I.A. , Yusuf I.Z. , Tahir F.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare food utilization of quality protein maize (QPM) to other maize varieties.

Design/methodology/approach

Pap (ogi) – a maize starch porridge was prepared from QPM, tropical Zea mays early (TZE) and local maize (LM) using the traditional method. Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory analyses were carried out on the pap samples as indices of quality following standard methods.

Findings

The sensory evaluation preference rating for pap (ogi) prepared from QPM, TZE and LM varieties showed no significant difference (p < 0.05) in flavour, taste, colour and overall acceptability. Significant difference was however observed in the pH of the three products.

Practical implications

The findings suggested that QPM have the potential to replace other maize varieties as a staple diet and cheap source of quality protein.

Originality/value

This paper contributes knowledge to the fight against malnutrition and hunger, especially in the sub‐Saharan Africa.
Hypocholesterolemic effect of teent (Capparis decidua) in hyperlipidemic obese adults
Authors: Goyal Rajni , Grewal Rajbala
Published: June 2010

Purpose

An elevated level of cholesterol in blood is quite common nowadays. People are becoming more health conscious. The purpose of this paper is to study the hypocholesterolemic effect of teent, as it is a rich source of dietary fiber.

Design/methodology/approach

Teent was processed and analyzed for proximate coposition and dietary fiber constituents. Fifteen obese volunteer subjects having high blood lipid profile were selected for the experiment. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for total, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol initially before start of feeding experiment and at the end of experiment. Teent was processed and various products using teent or teent powder were standardized. Best acceptable products, namely, chutney and biscuits were supplemented in the diets of the subjects for three months.

Findings

The nutritional evaluation of teent indicates that it contains a good amount of protein and fiber. A significant decrease in the total cholesterol (13 percent) and LDL cholesterol (16 percent) was noticed at the end of the experiment. However, no significant change in HDL cholesterol was witnessed.

Originality/value

In the present scenario due to urbanization more and more people are facing problem of obesity and related heart diseases. At the same time they also want to avoid consuming medicines due to their side effects so results indicate that teent supplementation may have an important role in nutritional management of hypercholesterolemia.
MyLibrary Calendar: a Web 2.0 communication platform
Authors: Li Yiu‐On , Wong Irene S.M. , Chan Loletta P.Y.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss Hong Kong Baptist University Library's MyLibrary Calendar Project to streamline library‐patron communication and to strengthen the Library's publicity for its services, facilities and outreach activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the application of an in‐house developed iCalendar Data Conversion Program and Innovative Millennium Patron API Form in this Project. The iCalendar Data Conversion Program extracts and converts data from library announcements, interlibrary loan and circulation records, library e‐mails and notices, and records of library facilities reservation to iCalendar format for dissemination to patrons. The Innovative Millennium Patron API Form, on the other hand, authenticates patrons' subscription to the services.

Findings

The project employs Web 2.0 technologies and social networking software such as iCalendar format, calendar applications, API and Google Calendar SMS notification option to publish, syndicate, and aggregate dynamic web content in a Library 2.0 model. It enables patrons to use their own personal calendar computer applications that support the open and standard iCalendar format as a one‐stop‐shop platform to automatically collect and manage library calendar events, library e‐mails and notices, and their own records of circulation, interlibrary loan and room reservation in an efficient and centralized channel.

Originality/value

MyLibrary Calendar is a unique Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 compliant tool. It enables patrons to collect and manage library events and their own library records systematically in their own calendar applications. This tool also facilitates the Library to proactively publicize its services and facilities effectively and to bring about a shift in power and new library‐patron relationship smoothly.
Differences among university students and faculties in social networking site perception and use
Authors: Park Ji‐Hong
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Social networking sites (SNSs) are gaining popularity in various areas. Library and information services also are attempting to utilize them for increasing the library user traffic. Considering the lack of SNS studies in academic library services and various SNS usage patterns according to user type, it is necessary to compare the usage patterns across different user groups. This paper thus aims to explore the usages of a SNS by different university users.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through semi‐structured and open‐ended interviews conducted with undergraduates, graduates, and faculty members at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Data were analyzed according to the three groups (undergraduates, graduates, and faculty members) and within each group SNS user perception and use were examined across the three different user activity groups (active users, semi‐active users, and non‐active users).

Findings

The analyses indicated that the three groups of users demonstrated distinct patterns of SNS use. Although undergraduates used the profile service more than the community service, graduates used the community more than the profile service. Most faculty members were not active users. Six factors that affected these different usage patterns were identified: desire for expression, peer influences, familiarity with information technologies, sensitivity to privacy, nature of using the internet, and perception of the SNS.

Practical implications

A differentiated approach is necessary for SNS‐based academic library services.

Originality/value

The paper makes useful and initial suggestions for implementing SNS‐based library and information service in academic settings.
Copy cataloguing in India: a point‐of‐view
Authors: Chandrakar Rajesh , Arora Jagdish
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide an Indian perspective on copy cataloguing and its current position in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the experiences of visiting various colleges and universities across the country. The paper explains copy cataloguing and its sources available to the Indian libraries for retrospective conversion.

Findings

Copy cataloguing in India is not widespread. The supply of a “ready cataloguing” in MARC format by Indian publishers and supply agents is also not widely available.

Practical implications

Copy cataloguing features have been implemented into the SOUL software and the IndCat, an online union catalogue of Indian universities for the Indian libraries.

Originality/value

It is observed that copy cataloguing features have never been explained in one place for Indian libraries. The information provided in the paper will help the community at large.
Interoperability models in digital libraries: an overview
Authors: Alipour‐Hafezi Mehdi , Horri Abbas , Shiri Ali , Ghaebi Amir
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the existing interoperability models in digital libraries and to introduce related projects in each model.

Design/methodology/approach

The study starts from searching various databases with a combination of important keywords in the field, such as interoperability, digital library, meta‐searching and cross‐searching. The study follows up with describing related digital library projects in the field of technical interoperability. The projects are described under three main categories, Federated, Harvesting and Gathering.

Findings

The study shows that most of the studied projects are located in the USA and also most of the digital library projects use OAI protocol and the harvesting model in order to be technically interoperable. Also, the results of the study showed that the projects mostly paid attention to metadata interoperability and only a few mentioned full‐text interoperability issues.

Originality/value

The paper makes an original contribution of exploring an area (interoperability models in digital libraries), that is at the forefront of discussion in libraries worldwide.
Training needs of purchasing and supply management personnel in Hong Kong
Authors: Lau Antonio K.W.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The importance of purchasing and supply management (PSM) for business performance has received considerable attention in recent years. However, research on PSM training and education is inadequate. This paper aims to present initial findings from PSM practitioners about current PSM training and education needs in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

An industrial survey of PSM participants was conducted. Of the 405 PSM practitioners contacted, 53 responded to the survey, for a response rate of 13.1 percent.

Findings

The study identifies current trends, skills and knowledge areas for PSM professionals. The results show that the trends of PSM focus on purchasing cost reduction, the skills focus on negotiation and communication, and the knowledge on supply analysis and relationship management. The study also finds that companies tend to adopt on‐the‐job training for PSM staff but lack a systematic PSM training approach.

Research limitations/implications

The study suggests that human resource development for PSM staff must focus not only on tactical techniques, but also on managerial knowledge and skills. However, the sampled companies are weak at providing PSM training and measuring its results. As this study is limited by the small sample size and the nature of the surveyed region, more empirical research will be required to study the effectiveness of PSM training on business performance.

Practical implications

This study shows that companies are weak at staff training in the studied region. Most of the companies surveyed do not have formal training programs and training effectiveness measurements. Knowledge of this is essential for other similar organizations wanting to improve their PSM personnel.

Originality/value

This paper identifies current trends, skills and knowledge required for PSM in Hong Kong, which have not previously been reported in literature.
Scenistic methods in training: definitions and theory grounding
Authors: Lyons Paul
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The aim of this article is to describe the scenistic approach to training with corresponding activities and the theory bases that support the approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Presented is the definition of the concept of scenistic training along with the step‐by‐step details of the implementation of the approach. Scenistic methods, while clear examples of situated cognition and learning, are derived from several other important theory bases to include constructivism, experiential learning, mental models, transformative learning, and action theory.

Findings

The theory base offers support for the activities and steps contained in scenistic training methods. The theories, in combination, address motivation, distinct learning tasks and activities, and the regulation of learning. To an extent, scenistic methods invite the trainee to create and manage learning with guidance and support from trainers. This delegation of responsibility to the trainee has powerful motivational consequences.

Research limitations/implications

In this article a detailed presentation of the concepts and theories that support the development and use of scenistic training methods is offered. Even though the efficacy of scenistic methods are supported with empirical research, the theory‐base for the methods has not been carefully explained.

Practical implications

Most of the development of scenistic methods has taken place in the past ten years, a time period in which there has not been a lot of interest displayed in new training approaches. This article seeks to illuminate the concept for practitioners and scholars of training as well as to offer detailed theory grounding for scenistic methods.

Originality/value

Originality and value are combined in the expression of the details of a somewhat generic model of scenistic methods as well as a reasonably broad perspective of theories that help to explain the dynamics of the steps in the approach.