Murder She Wrote: Death and Drama in Nesting Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers serve a vital role as a keystone species in their respective biome by excavating nesting cavities that are in turn used by numerous forest birds and animals. These secondary cavity nesters rely heavily on the success of primary nesters in order to ensure their own reproductive success. Unfortunately numerous woodpeckers, such as the Black-backed (Picoides arcticus) and White-headed Woodpeckers (Picoides albolarvatus), have seen a large decline in numbers and are now considered a threatened species. Inability for these woodpeckers to reproduce creates a top-down trophic cascade in their biome. In an effort to better understand how nesting success is impacted by the behaviors of woodpeckers, predators, and secondary cavity nesters at the nest, sixty-five different nests were filmed for over 15,000 hours in the Eastern Washington Cascades during the 2015 and 2016 breeding seasons. We have watched and scored close to 400 hours of footage and have documented aggressive takeover by secondary cavity nesters, predation of nest chicks, and even human disturbance of nests. By better understanding the ecological pressures woodpeckers face and identifying what factors contribute to successful nesting, proper measures can be taken to maintain healthy levels of woodpecker populations

Murder She Wrote: Death and Drama in Nesting Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers serve as primary cavity excavators in fire-dominated forests. Secondary cavity users (SCU’s) rely heavily on cavities excavated by woodpeckers. Woodpecker species are declining, and some are now locally threatened. Management needs answers. How is woodpecker reproductive success impacted by the behavior of woodpeckers, SCU’s, and predators

The afterlife of colonial radio in Christian missionary broadcasting of the Philippines

The article explores Christian missionary radio broadcasting as part of a wider sonic colonization of the Philippines under US colonial rule. Specifically, I explore how some post-Second World War faith-based broadcasters shaped the listening practices of Filipino audiences through programming tactics such as blocktiming. Furthermore, I consider how missionary broadcasters cultivated direct relationships with listeners through the imagined ‘shared experiences’ of aural space. As a case study, I explore the activities of the US-based Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC), which began its operations in the Philippines in 1948. Since then, the organization has used the country as a hub for its expanding domestic and international radio network, which now includes broadcasts to South East Asia, China and other parts of the world. In addition to exploring how FEBC’s localized approach to programming has cultivated specific listening audiences, I explore how programmes have been received by listeners in the Philippines, many of whom continue to tune in via terrestrial radio

The Effects of Exercise Induced Increases in Heart Rate and Decreases in Blood Oxygen Saturation on Reaction-Time in Young Adults

An article that appeared in JASS, issue 2014Exercise has been proven to be beneficial to not only physical health, but also cognitive function. Few studies have looked at the effects of increased heart rate on cognitive function in young adults. In this experiment, reaction time tests were used as a measure of cognitive function, which were administered at rest, after maintaining 60% of maximum heart rate for 45 seconds, and after maintaining 80% of maximum heart rate for 45 seconds on 20 participants (mean = 21.45 years). The relationship between reaction time and blood oxygen saturation (%SpO2) were also analyzed. Results indicated that overall, reaction time improved (decreased) after the heart rate was increased to 60% of maximum heart rate but did not show significant improvements from 60% to 80% of maximum heart rate. There was no significant relationship between %SpO2 and reaction time. Findings suggest that as heart rate increases, %SpO2 slowly decreases. A positive relationship between increased heart rate and reaction time is suggested. These results could potentially have implications for advising young adults to engage in warm up exercises before sporting events for an increase in reaction time

Modeling the existing condition of a historic property to assist the Portal Heritage Society in its preservation efforts

Historical remains are a reminder of what our society used to be and it is our responsibility to preserve them so their significance will not be forgotten. Our service-learning Senior Project consisted in scanning the old and deteriorated Stewart House in Portal, Georgia, using a laser-based scanner to produce a virtual, three-dimensional, point-cloud model of it. The home, established in 1908, was the residence of the principal medical professional of Portal, James Stewart, until the 1950’s. The final model was presented to graduate student LynDee Winterton, who completed her Master’s Project around it to assist the Portal Heritage Society in its preservation efforts. This organization would now be equipped to restore the home and reopen it to the public as a museum. This project gave our Civil Engineering and Construction team an opportunity to assist our community in a service learning format and great understanding of the laser scanning techniques

How Perspectives on Food Safety of Vendors and Consumers Translate into Food-Choice Behaviors in 6 African and Asian Countries

Consumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered

How perspectives on food safety of vendors and consumers translate into food choice behaviors in six African and Asian countries

International audienceBackgroundConsumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered.ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding, from vendor and consumer perspectives, of how food safety concerns of consumers translate into their subsequent food choice behaviors in six diverse low- and middle-income countries.MethodsSix Drivers of Food Choice projects (2016-2022) provided transcripts from 17 focus group discussions and 343 interviews in Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes important to food safety.ResultsThe analysis suggests that consumers constructed meaning about food safety through personal lived experience and social influences. Community and family members contributed knowledge about food safety. Concerns about food safety were influenced by reputations of, and relationships with, food vendors. Consumers’ mistrust of food vendors was amplified by purposeful adulteration or unsafe selling practices and new methods used to produce food. Consumers were reassured of food safety by positive relationships with vendors; meals cooked at home; implementation of policies and following of regulations; vendor adherence to environmental sanitation and food hygiene practices; cleanliness of vendors’ appearance; and vendors’ or producers’ agency to use risk mitigation strategies in production, processing, and distribution of food.ConclusionsConsumers integrated their meanings, knowledge, and concerns about food safety to achieve assurance about the safety of their foods when making food choice decisions. The success of food-safety policies hinges on consideration of consumers’ food safety concerns in their design and implementation, alongside actions to reduce risk in food supply

How perspectives on food safety of vendors and consumers translate into food choice behaviors in six African and Asian countries

International audienceBackgroundConsumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered.ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding, from vendor and consumer perspectives, of how food safety concerns of consumers translate into their subsequent food choice behaviors in six diverse low- and middle-income countries.MethodsSix Drivers of Food Choice projects (2016-2022) provided transcripts from 17 focus group discussions and 343 interviews in Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes important to food safety.ResultsThe analysis suggests that consumers constructed meaning about food safety through personal lived experience and social influences. Community and family members contributed knowledge about food safety. Concerns about food safety were influenced by reputations of, and relationships with, food vendors. Consumers’ mistrust of food vendors was amplified by purposeful adulteration or unsafe selling practices and new methods used to produce food. Consumers were reassured of food safety by positive relationships with vendors; meals cooked at home; implementation of policies and following of regulations; vendor adherence to environmental sanitation and food hygiene practices; cleanliness of vendors’ appearance; and vendors’ or producers’ agency to use risk mitigation strategies in production, processing, and distribution of food.ConclusionsConsumers integrated their meanings, knowledge, and concerns about food safety to achieve assurance about the safety of their foods when making food choice decisions. The success of food-safety policies hinges on consideration of consumers’ food safety concerns in their design and implementation, alongside actions to reduce risk in food supply