Testing a consumer barrier to farmers' market attendance: a randomized controlled trial design

2019 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.This study investigates the efficacy of an informational coupon in attracting new farmers' market customers. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) market sales in the United States (U.S.) have declined since 2007, raising concern about the future viability of DTC markets overall. Farmers' market sales are one of the larger contributors to DTC sales. Previous research suggests that the limited range of products available, and thus the inability to get all of a household's at home food needs through shopping at the farmers' markets may impede sales growth. This research is timely given limited empirical evidence about successful marketing methods for farmers' market. It contributes new analysis for considering DTC marketing approaches for attracting new consumers. Specifically, this study tests the efficacy of an informational nudge (a kind of information delivery that serves as an alternative to regulations and requirements aimed at changing social behavior) on consumer attendance at a farmers' market in Northern Colorado. To test the effectiveness of the informational nudge at promoting attendance a winter farmers' market (WFM), we mailed 6,000 physical coupons redeemable for $10 to households in Fort Collins, Colorado during the 2017-2018 market season. Following a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, half of the coupons emphasized the wide range of products sold at the WFM, while the control coupons presented a generic picture. One hundred and eleven coupons were redeemed (1.85%), of which 58 were treatment and 53 control. A two-proportion z-test was utilized to detect a difference in redemption rates between both coupon types. While the coupon was somewhat effective at attracting new customers (36% had never attended the WFM), there were no statistically significant differences in redemption rates between treatment and control

Gender and mobility in the car-dependent urban society of Muscat/ Oman

This article aims at analysing women’s possibilities in Muscat/Oman to participate in society by being mobile. Taking Muscat’s highly diversified population into account, we included both Omani and Indian family households in a mixedmethods approach using predominantly qualitative interviews. As a result of the urbanisation and modernisation process of the last five decades, the Capital Area of Muscat today forms a linear urban corridor that extends over roughly 80 km. The specific spatial context of a fast growing and widely dispersed urban space, as well as a well-developed road infrastructure combined with a high availability of individual cars are the reasons why individual mobility is predominantly car-based. For the analysis of Omani and Indian women’s mobility the concept of motility was chosen as theoretical framework. Considering the categories access, competence and appropriation, the concept offers a particular enlightening perspective for the case of Muscat, where the socioeconomic position as well as social norms and cultural restrictions play a decisive role in women’s mobility

Urban Oman: From Modern to Postmodern Mobility in Muscat?

In our contribution, we discuss how modern types of urban structures and mobility have developed in Muscat, Oman. With regard to mobility practices, we argue that a transition from modern to postmodern types of mobility will be closely related to the transition from a car-dependent society to a society with options for multi-modal and smart mobility as well as new organizational forms. We raise the question to what extent specific social groups are disadvantaged by the existing mobility system. Furthermore we explore if current plans will turn the future mobility system into a more postmodern and more inclusive one

Craftmanship and Digitalization in the Italian Knitwear Industry. A Paradigm Shift for the Narrative of Made in Italy

Knitwear is a consolidated industry in Italy and, at the same time, a typical expression of the Made in Italy paradigm linked to the ideas of craftsmanship. While, on the one hand, knitwear is associated with the idea of craft and manufacturing traditions, on the other hand, it is nowadays produced by numerical control machines (CNC) where the technological contribution and the level of automation are very relevant. The convergence of physical and digital environments, at the heart of the Fashion Industry 4.0 debate, is an established feature of knitwear design practice. In the contemporary industrial scenario, knitted items are produced on digitally programmed machines through sophisticated software, and the manual contribution of the individual operator during the knitting phase is reduced to a minimum. In the light of these premises, this contribution questions the opportunity and value of the integration of digital technologies in the storytelling of traditional manufacturing without losing the power to evoke Made in Italy’s values such as quality, aesthetic refinement, and exclusivity. To analyze these issues, the authors report the case study of SMT – Società Manifattura Tessile, a leading knitting company where the technological presence equals that of traditional manufacturing craftmanship, keeping both elements at balance. The case study suggests the importance of the contemporary knitting craftsman to increasingly develop communication skills to make the relationship between technology andmanufacturing explicit and possibly smoothly blend it with the Made in Italy archetypes

GIS and Database Management for Mining Exploration

The mining sector has several tools which permits mining exploration works to be done in the most efficient and time conscious way as possible. This chapter is focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Database and aims to show how this combined approach can help in mineral exploration. It is all about building a database and GIS system capable first of all to assess if a geological/geographical data taken from the field is valid or wrong and to effectively manage mining data in a GIS designed to positively influence any mining exploration project from its earliest stages to the end of the project. We focus on Meiganga area where we have been involved

Migration and determinants of health : clinical epidemiological characteristics of migrants in Malta (2010-11)

Background Over recent years Malta has experienced a growing influx of migrants from Africa. With the aim of defining demographic characteristics and assessing the prevalence of conditions of public health significance among asylum seekers in Malta, a clinical research study was implemented in the framework of the European Union project ‘Mare nostrum’. Methods From August 2010 to June 2011 a dermatologist and an infectious diseases specialist performed general and specialist health assessment of migrants hosted in open centres. Results Migrants included in the study were 2216, 82.7% were males, their mean age was 25 years and 70.1% were from Somalia. Out of the total females, 42.5% had undergone some type of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. A total of 5077 diagnoses were set, most common were skin diseases (21.9%), respiratory diseases (19.8%) and gastro-enteric diseases (14.2%), whereas 31% of migrants reported good health conditions. Conclusions Immigrants have a lower morbidity burden compared with their fellow countrymen living in the origin country. However, living conditions during the journey, in transit countries and after arrival can influence their health status. The present study provides a comprehensive picture of this growing population that is in need for health promotion, mental health services and fair policy planning.peer-reviewe

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis, syphilis, hepatitis B and C among asylum seekers in Malta

Background: In the last few years, Malta has witnessed increasing immigration flows from the Libyan coasts. Public health policies are focused on screening migrants for tuberculosis, whereas no systematic actions against STIs are implemented. The aim of this study is to define the epidemiological profile of asylum seekers in Malta as regards syphilis, hepatitis B, C and latent tuberculosis, thus supporting screening policies. Methods: Five hundred migrants living in open centres were screened between December 2010 and June 2011. Results: 83.2% of people was from Somalia, 81.2% males, average age 26.5 years. The tuberculin skin test (TST) was positive in 225 migrants (45%). Latent syphilis was diagnosed in 11 migrants, hepatitis C in 3 and 31 migrants were HBsAg positive. Conclusion: Systematic screening for asymptomatic migrants in Malta is not recommended for hepatitis C and syphilis, given the low prevalence observed. On the contrary, it should be considered for hepatitis B. TST could be indicated as the first step of a two step screening for migrants from countries with high TB incidence. Efficacy and cost-effectiveness could be achieved by further targeting screening to specific subgroups at higher risk of reactivation, such as people living with HIV and subjects affected by chronic diseases.peer-reviewe

Risks of introduction and economic consequences associated with African swine fever, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease: A review of the literature

African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are considered to be three of the most detrimental animal diseases and are currently foreign to the U.S. Emerging and re-emerging pathogens can have tremendous impacts in terms of livestock morbidity and mortality events, production losses, forced trade restrictions, and costs associated with treatment and control. The United States is the world\u27s top producer of beef for domestic and export use and the world\u27s third-largest producer and consumer of pork and pork products; it has also recently been either the world\u27s largest or second largest exporter of pork and pork products. Understanding the routes of introduction into the United States and the potential economic impact of each pathogen are crucial to (a) allocate resources to prevent routes of introduction that are believed to be more probable, (b) evaluate cost and efficacy of control methods and (c) ensure that protections are enacted to minimize impact to the most vulnerable industries. With two scoping literature reviews, pulled from global data, this study assesses the risk posed by each disease in the event of a viral introduction into the United States and illustrates what is known about the economic costs and losses associated with an outbreak