Metro News Journalists Critique Food Biotechnology

The results of this study may encourage researchers, educators, and industry professionals to change behavior and to collaborate with journalists and the social institution of mass media to inform consumers about food biotechnology. Eighty-eight journalists for 65 of the nation’s largest newspapers provided data for the study. Major findings were as follows: journalists’ knowledge of food biotechnology was relatively low; most journalists considered genetic modification of plants as “acceptable,” and journalists had greatest faith in “university scientists” as sources. Too, “Writers” rather than “Editors” had greater acceptance of genetically modified organisms, greater faith in sources, and less fear of using biotechnology to produce food

Response Patterns: Effect of Day of Receipt of an E-Mailed Survey Instrument on Response Rate, Response Time, and Response Quality

Are you seeking ways to improve response to e-mailed survey instruments? We examined effects of day of receipt of an e-mailed survey instrument on 1) response rate, 2) length of time lapsed in responding, and 3) quality of response. No significant differences were explained by day of receipt of an e-mailed survey instrument on response rate, response time, or response quality. Two recommendations evolved: 1) use a complement of best practices, including advanced notice and multiple follow-up to increase participation of potential nonrespondents, and 2) understand the audience\u27s preferred modality, organizational values, communication patterns, and medium to elicit information

Comparison of laser speckle contrast imaging with laser Doppler for assessing microvascular function

Objective: To compare the inter-day reproducibility of post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) and sympathetic vasomotor reflexes assessed by single-point laser Doppler flowmetry (SP-LDF), integrating-probe LDF (IP-LDF) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), and the spatial variability of PORH assessed by IP-LDF and LSCI. We also evaluated the relationship between IP-LDF and LSCI perfusion values across a broad range of skin blood flows. Methods: Eighteen healthy adults (50% male, age 27 ± 4 years) participated in this study. Using SP-LDF, IP-LDF and LSCI, an index of skin blood flow was measured on the forearm during PORH (1-, 5- and 10-min occlusions) and on the finger pad during inspiratory gasp and cold pressor tests. These tests were repeated 3-7 days later. Data were converted to cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; laser Doppler flow/mean arterial pressure) and expressed as absolute and relative changes from pre-stimulus CVC (ΔCVCABS and ΔCVCREL, respectively), as well as normalised to peak CVC for the PORH tests. Reproducibility was expressed as within-subjects coefficients of variation (CV, in %) and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: The reproducibility of PORH on the forearm was poorer when assessed with SP-LDF and IP-LDF compared to LSCI (e.g., CV for 5-min PORH ΔCVCABS = 35, 27 and 19%, respectively), with no superior method of data expression. In contrast, the reproducibility of the inspiratory gasp and cold pressor test responses on the finger pad were better with SP-LDF and IP-LDF compared to LSCI (e.g., CV for inspiratory gasp ΔCVCREL = 13, 7 and 19%, respectively). The spatial variability of PORH responses was poorer with IP-LDF compared to LSCI (e.g., CV ranging 11-35% versus 3-16%, respectively). The association between simultaneous LSCI and IP-LDF perfusion values was non-linear. Conclusion: The reproducibility of cutaneous PORH was better when assessed with LSCI compared to SP-LDF and IP-LDF; probably due to measuring larger skin areas (lower inter-site variability). However, when measuring sympathetic vasomotor reflexes on the finger pad, reproducibility was better with SP-LDF and IP-LDF, perhaps due to the high sensitivity of LSCI to changes in skin blood flow at low levels

Measuring the Ethical Cognition Effects of a Videotape Livestock Show Ethics Education Program

As Extension educators and agriculture education teachers address the sensitive issues of livestock show ethics and quality assurance of the food animals produced and marketed to the public through the youth livestock program, they must ensure that their educational efforts are effective. Everyone has an opinion about what should or should not be done in order to improve the situation related youth livestock ethics. This study examines the effectiveness of a video educational program that has been in widespread use since its inception in 1996

Research Themes, Authors, and Methodologies in the Journal of Applied Communications: A Ten-Year Overview

The Journal of Applied Communications ( JAC) has been a primary outlet of agricultural communications research and professional scholarship—a claim validated by a survey of professionals in the field. The purpose of this study was to assess ten years of JAC to determine primary and secondary research themes, frequent primary and secondary research themes by year, prolific authorship, and research methods and types reported, using a mixed-methods design. Analyzed in the study were 91 research and/or professional articles with research methodologies published from 1997 through 2006. The research identified twenty-one primary research theme areas and 28 secondary research theme areas. A compiled list of primary and secondary research theme areas and frequent themes identified by year are reported. JAC authors were identified totaling 222 contributors; Tracy Irani and Ricky Telg (13.2%) were the most prolific authors. A majority of the articles (65.9%) employed quantitative research methods, and survey methodology (47.3%) was the most common data collection measure. Research themes appear cyclic, with specific themes moving in and out of primary and secondary areas, which may contribute to research theme diversity. Research must continue to determine whether cycles exist; if cycles do indeed exist then focus should be placed on determining cycle depth and the influence on research in agricultural communications as an integrated specialization area of agricultural education. This research should be used comparatively with priority areas identified in the National Research Agenda: Agricultural Education and Communication, 2007–2010, to determine where future research might be focused

Texas 4-H Members’ Sense of Community Engagement and Attachment

Previous researchers found that youth in 4-H were four times more likely to actively contribute to their communities, two times more likely to be civically active, and five times more likely to graduate from college than non-4- H members. In addition, youth who were more actively involved in community engagement tended to perform at an increased academic achievement level and were more likely to go to college, according to previous studies. The results of the research reported here described participants’ community service and engagement activities both in and outside of 4-H and their attachment to their home communities. Respondents were mostly residents of rural areas, farms, or small towns and cities. They were satisfied with where they lived, and they reported that contributing to their community was important to them and believed it made a positive influence on their life. Most participants also indicated that the community in which they lived and the people closest to them were important parts of their lives and contributed positively to their development. By determining current 4-H members’ level of community attachment, Extension professionals can better understand the influence a community and its stakeholders have in a young person’s leadership development and aspirations

Parents\u27 Perceptions of Life Skills Gained by Youth Participating in the 4-H Beef Project

Does participating in the 4-H beef project help develop life skills in youth? Randomly selected parents of youth were mailed a survey asking them to determine if 13 life skills were enhanced as a result of their child participating in the 4-H beef project. The rank order for the top five mean scores were: accepting responsibility, setting goals, develop self-discipline, self motivation, and knowledge of the livestock industry. A Pearson product moment correlation coefficient also revealed a low-to-moderate positive relationship for life skill development and years of participating in the 4-H beef project

Great Yorkshire Livestock Show Attendees’ Attitudes about Agriculture

The purpose of our research was to determine if attending a U.K. livestock show changed attendees’ attitudes about agriculture and to compare those changes in attitudes to attendees of a U.S. state fair similar in size and dynamic. The sample was livestock show attendees at the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS). The mixed-method design included a then and now semantic differential scale with bipolar adjective pairs to measure attendees’ attitudes about agriculture before and after the experience and qualitative interviews with photo elicitation to learn about how attendees developed attitudes about agriculture. Participants had positive attitudes about agriculture before they attended the Show and had more positive attitudes after attending. Participants had more positive attitudes before and after attending the Show than did California State Fair attendees. In addition, participants lacked prior experiences with agriculture, but attending the GYS provided them the opportunity to develop positive attitudes through cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Fair attendance should be promoted because they provide unique opportunities for experiential learning and U.S. fairs should adopt experiential tactics used at the GYS. Further research is needed to better understand how GYS attendees developed positive attitudes about agriculture prior to attending the Show and what elements of the GYS experience were most influential to attendees’ attitude development

Through Students' Eyes: Perceptions and Aspirations of College of Agriculture and Life Science Students Regarding International Educational Experiences

Abstract This study examined perceptions and aspirations of 956 students concerning international educational experiences. Drawn as a purposive critical cas