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The Advocacy Coalition Framework: the Tennessee Hall Income Tax Case Study
No full textThe Stages Heuristics Model (Laswell, 1957) was the primary method to study the policy process for several decades. This model had its shortcomings. The Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) provides an alternate method of studying the policy process (Sabatier, 1988). The theory has been used in different fields to include Environmental Science, Human Rights, Public Administration, and Economics. The theory has constantly been revised by its authors to correct identified weaknesses. This case study research uses the ACF to analyze the repeal of Tennessee’s Hall income tax. The research focuses on the beliefs, resources, and strategies of advocacy coalition groups as they advocate to repeal the Hall income tax. This work identifies two advocacy coalition groups: The pro-Hall income tax repeal advocacy coalition and the anti-Hall income tax repeal advocacy coalition. The study further explores if the four causes of policy change identified by the ACF were a factor in this case study. These causes of policy change are internal shocks, external shocks, policy-oriented learning, and negotiated agreements. The study tests six hypotheses, five of them from the ACF and one written by me for this research. This qualitative study uses content analysis to evaluate data from interviews, archives of legislative bills, newspaper articles, and other publications. The Hall income tax was instituted in 1929 and named after Senator Hall of Dickson, Tennessee. From 1997 to 2020, 146 legislative bills were proposed to make changes to the Hall income tax. Only 14 of the proposed bills became law. Public Chapter 1064 signed on May 20, 2016, by Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee is the law that phased out the Hall income tax. Several advocacy groups including the Beacon Center of Tennessee, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Tax Foundation either lobbied, made publications, or financed advocacy campaigns to fight for the repeal of the tax. This study confirms that the ACF is an effective theory for studying public policy
Identification and Management of Phytophthora Aerial Blight Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae on Catharanthus roseus
Get PDFPhytophthora nicotianae is the most common pathogen in nurseries and gardens, infecting both woody and herbaceous ornamental plants. Phytophthora aerial blight symptoms such dull water-soaked lesions on shoot tips and leaf petioles, girdling on the main stem, necrosis, and wilting of annual vinca were observed in a commercial greenhouse in Warren Co., Tennessee, USA in May 2016. The objective of this study was to identify the causal agent of Phytophthora aerial blight and develop a fungicide management recommendation for ornamental producers. Attempts to isolate the pathogen from symptomatic leaf tissue were conducted and excised leaf pieces were embedded in the V8 agar medium. Morphological characterization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and pathogenicity test of the isolate FBG2016_444 were conducted to confirm the pathogen identification. The sequence identity was 100% identical to Phytophthora nicotianae, and a combined phylogenetic tree (internal transcribed spacer [ITS]), the large subunit [LSU] of rDNA, and ras-related protein gene [Ypt1]) grouped isolate FBG2016_444 within the clade of P. nicotianae. In the pathogenecity study, all inoculated annual vinca plant showed the Phytophthora aerial blight symptoms and P. nicotianae was re-isolated whereas non-inoculated annual vinca plant remained symptomless. These findings confirmed P. nicotianae as the causal agent of Phytophthora aerial blight of annual vinca. In addition, two rates (0.078 and 0.156 mL·L-1) and three application intervals (7, 14 and 21 days before inoculation [DBI]) of oxathiapiprolin (Segovis®) were evaluated for their ability to reduce the Phytophthora aerial blight severity on annual vinca plants. The control groups were positive (non-treated inoculated) and negative (non-treated non-inoculated) plants. Both rates and application timings of oxathiapiprolin significantly reduced Phytophthora aerial blight severity and disease progress (area under disease progress curve [AUDPC]) on annual vinca plants compared to the positive control. However, 0.078 and 0.156 mL·L-1 of oxathiapiprolin applied at 7 or 14 DBI were the most effective treatments in reducing the disease severity and AUDPC on annual vinca plants. The plant growth parameters such as increase in height and width, total plant weight, and root weight were not influenced by the application of oxathiapiprolin. The finding reported in this study will help ornamental growers with better management of Phytophthora aerial blight of annual vinca
Impact of Row Covers on Yield Performance, Sensory and Phytochemical Analysis of Leafy Green Vegetables Grown in Organic Management System
No full textRow covers are gaining interest in crop production for their potential to protect crops from insect pests, frost, increase soil and air temperature, and extend growing season, thus producing higher crop yield. However, research on the performance of green leafy vegetables grown under row cover in organic management system is scarce. The field trials were conducted in the spring 2018, 2019 and 2020 (February–May) to analyze the growth and yield responses of leafy greens (collard, kale, lettuce and swiss chard) in row covers as well as to analyze sensory attributes, phytochemical qualities and soil properties of leafy greens grown at organic and conventional management at the Tennessee State University Nashville, TN. Results showed that fresh weight per plant significantly (P \u3c 0.05) increased under agribon cloth in kale, swiss chard and collard, while lettuce produced significantly higher yield under insect net relative to open (control) in the 2018 whereas in 2019, swiss chard and collard yield was higher under plastic, and lettuce yielded higher under agribon cloth and kale under insect net compared to open. Similarly, in 2020 the fresh weight of leafy greens was higher (P \u3c 0.05) under row covers. In comparing the yield of leafy greens from organic and conventional management, maximum fresh weight per plant was obtained from conventionally grown kale and the lowest was recorded for conventionally grown lettuce. For lettuce, significantly greater fresh weight was obtained in the organic compared to conventional and no difference in fresh weight between organic and conventional production for swiss chard. All differences in the sensory qualities between the two production systems do not create major sensory differences in the leafy greens vegetables evaluated. Further studies are needed to confirm and investigate the consumer preference towards organic products growing under different row covers. The Vitamin C content of leafy greens were significantly reduced after 10 and 20 days of storage at 4 °C in both organic and conventional management but for DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity and reducing power, there was no significant changes in 10 days but after 20 days it was numerically reduced. Organic production system promoted microbial biomass governed by the elevated carbon use efficiency and limited soil heterotrophic respiration to the atmosphere. Thus, row covers are a viable option in sustainable production of leafy greens for organic vegetable growers to grow crops earlier in the season
Assessing the Economic Contribution of the Local Food System: A Case Study for Tennessee
No full textLocal food systems are often viewed as development pathways for local economies due to their ability to create a multiplier effect in an economy through a significant contribution to Output and job creation. There is limited information for these impacts for Tennessee; therefore, this study identified the distribution of selected food systems in Tennessee and measured the gross economic contributions of Tennessee’s local food system using IMPLAN’s input-output model.The distribution of direct-to-consumer marketing channels across the state showed that Farmer’s market is the most populous channel. Results from the analysis showed that L.F.S. is a crucial component of Tennessee\u27s economy, with an estimated total economic contribution of $37.5 billion. The region\u27s local food system directly employs over 99,000 people, has an income multiplier of 2.56 and a value-added multiplier of 2.06.This study also created two models of a local food system: agricultural producers and another model that consists of agricultural producers and processors. The econometric analysis of both models showed that the model that contained agricultural producers and processors had a higher economic contribution in Output, employment, labor income, and value-added.Findings show that L.F.S. has significant positive contributions to the total state output, employment, and labor income in Tennessee. Therefore, a strengthened local food system is an avenue for further economic development in the region of Tennessee
A Case Study Exploring the Success of a President at a Public HBCU (Historically Black University)
No full textHistorically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to contribute irrefutable value to higher education. The individuals leading HBCUs for over 180 years have endured many obstacles and setbacks. However, the men and women who assume the role of president commit to continuing the original missions of these institutions. Over the past two decades, the role of the HBCU president has been plagued with financial instability, operational uncertainty, and high turnover rates. While literature is inundated with the hardships of HBCU leadership, it is limited regarding the HBCU’s presidents and their achievements while serving their campuses.The purpose of this case study was to explore the leadership style and tenure of one successful HBCU president. Success was measured by (a) improved and consistent student enrollment, (b) above average retention and graduation rates, (c) increased level of financial support, and (d) efficient fiscal management of the institution (Gallup Inc., 2016). This case study was completed through an examination of one HBCU president who served at two HBCU institutions, consecutively. Historical data spanning a twenty-seven-year period was reviewed and analyzed to identify areas of success. Areas of contention during the presidencies were also noted. Four major themes emerged: (a) political influence at public HBCUs, (b) voice of internal stakeholders, (c) importance of HBCU external stakeholders, and (d) the utilization of the athletic department for recruitment and revenue. It is hoped that this research will contribute to the limited body of literature that highlights the positive attributes of HBCU presidents
Yield Performance, Nutritional, and Sensory Qualities of Watermelon (Citrullus lunatus [Thunb.] Matsum and Nakai) Influenced by Humic Substances in Organic Production System
No full textField trials were conducted in the summer 2019-2021 to analyze yield response of Crimson Sweet and Sugar Baby watermelon to application of humic acid, fulvic acid and biochar. Fruit sensory attributes, phytochemical profile and food safety parameters was also determined. There were no significant differences in the number of fruits per plant between Crimson Sweet and Sugar Baby (P\u3c0.05). Humic acid gave the highest number of fruit (6.4), followed by biochar (6.1). Fulvic acid had the least number of fruits (4.7), however, these values were not statistically different from the control (P\u3c0.05). Humic acid and fulvic acid gave the highest fruit weight of 14.5 and 14.4 (lbs.), respectively. Variety contributed significantly to the phytochemical profile of watermelon. Treatments significantly increased percentage moisture content with humic acid and biochar giving the highest values of 94.2 and 93.9 for Crimson Sweet and 94.1 and 93.5 for Sugar Baby. Humic acid gave the highest a* (redness) value of 36.09 (for Crimson Sweet) and 35.63 (Sugar Baby) which were significantly higher than control (P\u3c0.05). Crimson sweet grown conventionally also recorded a higher redness (a*) compared to organic. Farming system (organic vs conventional) influenced the type of volatile organic compounds of watermelon. The principal volatile organic compound in organic watermelon was 1-nonanol whereas, benzoic acid was the principal VOC in conventional watermelon. Mean values for texture analysis decreased from the rind towards the center of the fruit. There were no differences in texture between treatment and control. Brix value declined from the center of fruits towards the rind. Crimson Sweet had a higher mean brix value of 10.54, 9.54, and 6.54 for center, flesh, and rind, compared to Sugar Baby that had 8.8, 8.5, and 4.93 for center, flesh, and rind, respectively. Seventeen Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from organic and conventional watermelon field. Microbial count was significantly higher (P\u3c0.05) on fruits that were in direct contact with the ground (9.49) compared to fruits on plastic mulch (9.29). Organic field had higher microbial count (9.5) compared to conventional (9.3)., Enterobacter sakazakii, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas fluorescence were resistant to cephalothin
