Understanding Organics at the Grassroots Level: An analysis of Ecuadorian and Canadian perceptions

There is a growing public concern over the genetic alteration and use of chemicals in conventionally produced agriculture. The perceived risk of such agricultural production has prompted the rising popularity of organic alternatives in both developed and developing nations. These products are defined by their reliance on traditional means that do not require the use of harmful chemicals or pesticides in their production. The organic movement in South America has been defined not only by perceived risks, but also by a desire to preserve traditional ways of life. This is accomplished through grants and funding to indigenous farmers in these regions, allowing them to continue their practice. By interviewing a number of individuals in Ecuador and Canada involved in three levels of the organic process (consumers, distributors, and producers) this study determined common cultural and intercultural conceptions of organic practices. These findings were then related to a number of recommendations for three distinct systems (small-scale farming, free trade, and certification) that are currently relevant to the organic movement

The effectiveness of blended learning environments for the delivery of respiratory care education [abstract]

Abstract only availableIt has been reported that the major weakness of online learning environments is the lack of consistent, efficient communication with the course instructor. In an attempt to provide the learner with the “best of both worlds,” some educators have opted to integrate additional course materials via internet classrooms to enhance learning while still maintaining the face-to-face interaction between instructor and learner. The researchers hypothesized that there is not a difference in academic outcomes between students who complete a course in a traditional environment and those who complete the course in a blended environment nor is there a difference in student satisfaction between the two methods of course delivery. Methods: Data collection included a retrospective review of the demographic and course information. Quantitative data analysis of the data was performed in SPSS® using the Mann-Whitney test and the Spearman rho correlation. Qualitative data analysis was performed via open coding of subjective student comments. Results: The data obtained by retrospective review of demographics and course outcomes was analyzed to determine significant differences. None of the variables showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.05). Further testing revealed an expected positive relationship between pre-existing GPA and the final examination grade as well as the final examination grade and the course grade (p=0.05). No other positive relationships were noted in course outcomes, student satisfaction or subjective comments. Conclusions: It can be assumed by the data presented that there is no difference in academic outcomes when comparing the traditional classroom setting to the blended classroom setting. These results favor the continuing practice of blended learning environments as a viable option for course delivery in health care education, specifically respiratory care.School of Health Professions Research Mentorshi

The Final (Oral Ebola) Vaccine Trial on Captive Chimpanzees?

Could new oral vaccine technologies protect endangered wildlife against a rising tide of infectious disease? We used captive chimpanzees to test oral delivery of a rabies virus (RABV) vectored vaccine against Ebola virus (EBOV), a major threat to wild chimpanzees and gorillas. EBOV GP and RABV GP-specific antibody titers increased exponentially during the trial, with rates of increase for six orally vaccinated chimpanzees very similar to four intramuscularly vaccinated controls. Chimpanzee sera also showed robust neutralizing activity against RABV and pseudo-typed EBOV. Vaccination did not induce serious health complications. Blood chemistry, hematologic, and body mass correlates of psychological stress suggested that, although sedation induced acute stress, experimental housing conditions did not induce traumatic levels of chronic stress. Acute behavioral and physiological responses to sedation were strongly correlated with immune responses to vaccination. These results suggest that oral vaccination holds great promise as a tool for the conservation of apes and other endangered tropical wildlife. They also imply that vaccine and drug trials on other captive species need to better account for the effects of stress on immune response

Testing Transitivity of Preferences on Two-Alternative Forced Choice Data

As Duncan Luce and other prominent scholars have pointed out on several occasions, testing algebraic models against empirical data raises difficult conceptual, mathematical, and statistical challenges. Empirical data often result from statistical sampling processes, whereas algebraic theories are nonprobabilistic. Many probabilistic specifications lead to statistical boundary problems and are subject to nontrivial order constrained statistical inference. The present paper discusses Luce's challenge for a particularly prominent axiom: Transitivity. The axiom of transitivity is a central component in many algebraic theories of preference and choice. We offer the currently most complete solution to the challenge in the case of transitivity of binary preference on the theory side and two-alternative forced choice on the empirical side, explicitly for up to five, and implicitly for up to seven, choice alternatives. We also discuss the relationship between our proposed solution and weak stochastic transitivity. We recommend to abandon the latter as a model of transitive individual preferences

Vegetation Correlates of the History and Density of Nesting by Ross’s Geese and Lesser Snow Geese at Karrak Lake, Nunavut

Growth in populations of Ross’s geese (Chen rossii) and lesser snow geese (C. caerulescens) has led to concerns about destructive grazing of Arctic ecosystems. We estimated the extent and composition of plant communities at Karrak Lake, Nunavut, where populations of both goose species have grown geometrically over the past three decades. Proportion of land covered by vegetation was lower in areas where geese had nested for more than 20 years than in areas with no previous nesting history. Vegetative cover also declined with increasing nest density of both species. Species richness and diversity of vegetation was higher in more recently colonized areas of nesting than in areas with over 20 years of goose nesting. Exposed mineral substrate, exposed peat, and Senecio congestus were more prevalent in areas with a 10-year or longer history of goose nesting than in areas with less than 10 years of nesting. These patterns confirm that increasing numbers of nesting Ross’s geese and lesser snow geese have altered the spatial distribution of vegetation surrounding Karrak Lake and reduced the species richness of local plant communities.La croissance des populations d’oie de Ross (Chen rossii) et de petite oie des neiges (C. caerulescens) engendre des préoccupations en matière de broutage destructif des écosystèmes de l’Arctique. Nous avons estimé l’ampleur et la composition des peuplements végétaux du lac Karrak, au Nunavut, où les populations de ces deux espèces d’oies ont augmenté de manière géométrique au cours des trois dernières décennies. La proportion de terre couverte par la végétation était moins élevée dans les régions où les oies avaient niché pendant plus de 20 ans que dans les régions où ces oies n’avaient jamais niché. Par ailleurs, la couverture végétale affichait une baisse là où la densité de nidification des deux espèces augmentait. La richesse des espèces et la diversité de la végétation étaient plus grandes dans les lieux de nidification colonisés plus récemment que dans les lieux de nidification colonisés il y a une vingtaine d’années. Les substrats de minéraux à découvert, la tourbe à découvert et le Senecio congestus se voyaient plus souvent dans les régions où les oies avaient niché pendant dix ans ou plus que dans les régions où les oies avaient niché pendant moins de dix ans. Ces tendances confirment que les populations croissantes d’oies de Ross et de petites oies des neiges ont altéré la répartition spatiale de la végétation entourant le lac Karrak, en plus de réduire la richesse des espèces et des peuplements végétaux des environs

Recruitment and baseline characteristics of the Community of Voices choir study to promote the health and well-being of diverse older adults.

Objective:To describe the recruitment and baseline results of the Community of Voices study that aims to examine the effect of a community choir intervention on the health and well-being of older adults from diverse racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Method:Using community-based participatory research methods, we recruited adults age 60 and over from 12 Administration on Aging-supported senior centers in San Francisco into a 2-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial of the community choir intervention. Multiple outreach methods were used. We tracked outreach, screening, and recruitment metrics and collected demographics and baseline outcomes via community-based, interviewer-administered surveys and performance measures of cognition, physical function, and psychosocial variables. Results:The study contacted 819 individuals, screened 636, and enrolled 390 diverse older adults over a 42-month, phased recruitment period. The mean age was 71.2 (SD = 7.3), and the majority were women. Two-thirds of the sample are non-white, and 20% of participants reported having financial hardship. Discussion:Outreach and recruitment methods used in the Community of Voices trial facilitated enrollment of a large proportion of minority and lower-SES older adults in the final sample. Similar recruitment approaches could serve as a model for recruiting diverse racial/ethnic and socioeconomic older adults into research