DO SOCIAL MEDIA THEORIES ACTUALLY WORK? AN ANALYSIS OF THREE SOCIAL MEDIA THEORIES IMPLEMENTED IN AN ACTIVE NONPROFIT CAMPAIGN

Social media has become an important part of donor and public relations for nonprofit organizations. But with various social networking platforms available, millions of potential viewers and countless theories and techniques, it can be challenging for these organizations to know what works in real-life situations. This study looks at three popular social media theories and how they are implemented into a live, nonprofit, social media campaign. These theories of dialogic communication, emotional appeals, and attitude formation are found to be greatly beneficial to both the daily maintenance of nonprofit social media pages, and for specific fundraising campaigns. This case study acts as a guide for future research, and a source of practical insight for current nonprofit organizations. Through a process of content analysis, data examination and personal interviews, an understanding of the most effective tactics for using social media to run productive fundraising campaigns and build public support is clearly established

Action Research: Teachers’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Implementing Restorative Practices

This study closely examines the attitudes of elementary school teachers in regards to their attitudes and perceptions of implementing restorative practices in the school setting. The study utilized interviews with teachers to analyze attitudes toward restorative practices and what steps need to be taken in order to successfully implement it in the district. Participants included eight elementary school teachers who were purposefully chosen to participate in this study. Information gathered from interviews will direct administration to determine the next steps of the implementation process

Economic Analysis of Increased Corn Silage Inclusion in Beef Finishing Cattle

An economic analysis was conducted to assess the feasibility of feeding greater inclusions of corn silage in finishing diets. Cattle were fed two inclusions of corn silage (15 and 45% of diet dry matter) with or without tylosin. Cattle fed 15% corn silage with tylosin had the best feed conversion, 15 % corn silage without tylosin was intermediate, and both 45% corn silage with and without tylosin had the poorest feed conversion. Feeding corn silage at greater inclusions decreased ADG but increased final body weight when fed to an equal fatness (28 days longer). However, feeding corn silage at 45% was more economical compared to feeding 15% corn silage, especially at higher corn prices, provided shrink is well managed (less than 15%). Feeding elevated concentrations of corn silage may have an economic advantage while also offering the addition of liver abscess control in finishing diets without tylosin

Nutrient Digestibility of Condensed Algal Residue Solubles in Beef Cattle Fishing Diets

Condensed algal residue solubles (CARS) were evaluated in finishing cattle diets. Six treatments were evaluated (2 × 3 factorial arrangement), CARS inclusion in the diet at 0, 5, or 10% of diet dry matter with 0 or 20% wet distillers grains. Th e remainder of the diets consisted of 57.5– 87.5% dry rolled corn, 7.5% sorghum silage and 5% supplement. Increasing wet distillers grains in the diet had no effect on dry matter and organic matter intake but decreased dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Increasing CARS inclusion in the diet resulted in lower dry matter and organic matter intake with no effect on dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Replacing up to 10% dry rolled corn with CARS in diets with or without wet distillers grains had little effect on digestibility of finishing beef cattle diets

Effect of Conventional or High Protein Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles in Either Dry- Rolled or Steam- Flaked Corn Based Diets on Amount and Site of Nutrient Digestion

A 2 × 3 factorial metabolism study using 6 ruminally and duodenally cannulated heifers evaluated the site and amount of nutrient digestion when feeding high protein dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) or conventionally produced DDGS at 30% inclusion compared to feeding no distillers in either dry- rolled or steam- flaked corn diets. Apparent total tract starch digestibility was unaffected by distillers treatment in SFCbased diets, but decreased from 95.1% to 92.0% when DDGS was added to DRC diets, and further decreased to 88.7% for HiPro diets. Dry matter and OM digestibilities were lower types of when either DDGS diets were fed, but no differences were observed between conventional or high protein DDGS. Feeding high protein DDGS did not change digestion compared to conventional DDGS, despite higher CP content. Digestion is greater when cattle are fed steam- flaked corn compared to dry- rolled corn

Impact of Feeding Syngenta Enogen® Feed Corn Compared to Control Corn in Different Diet Scenarios to Finishing Beef Cattle

The objective of this pooled statistical analysis was to evaluate Syngenta Enogen® Feed Corn (EFC) versus conventional corn (CON) when fed as either dry-rolled corn (DRC) or highmoisture corn (HMC) for effects on finishing beef cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Corns were evaluated in diets with byproduct inclusion rates of 0, 15, 18, 20, and 30% distiller grains or 25 and 35% Sweet Bran® (a commercial corn gluten feed product). Seven trials (n = 1856) consisting of 200 pen means comparing 26 diet treatments were analyzed using regression in a pooled analysis. When EFC was processed as DRC, the gain efficiency (G:F) improved compared with CON, but the response to feeding EFC decreased from a 4.8% improvement to no improvement compared to CON as distiller grains increased from 0 to 30%, but was significantly improved due to feeding EFC in diets with 0 to 18% distiller grains. Feeding cattle EFC as DRC increased the average daily gain (ADG) and G:F by 4.5% compared with CON corn in diets containing Sweet Bran®. No improvements in animal performance were observed when cattle were fed EFC compared to CON when processed as HMC in any situation. Feeding Enogen® corn improved the gain efficiency of finishing cattle compared with conventional corn when processed as dry-rolled corn and fed in diets with less than 20% distillers or diets that include Sweet Bran®

Impact of Ramaekers Immune Primer on Finishing Beef Cattle Performance and Liver Abscess Rate

A feedlot study was conducted comparing a natural feed additive (Ramaekers Immune Primer) to Tylan or nothing on receiving and finishing performance. There were no differences for final BW, ADG, F:G, HCW, marbling, LM area, or fat thickness due to treatment. Liver abscess incidence and severity were reduced in steers fed Tylan, no differences were noted between Ramaekers Immune Primer and no additive. There was no difference in number of cattle treated for respiratory illness. Steers on the Ramaekers Immune Primer treatment had lower feed intake during the receiving period but had similar ADG and numerically better F:G at day 19 compared the control. These results suggest Ramaekers Immune Primer may be more beneficial, leading to increased performance, for younger, naive calves during the receiving phase

The Demand for Carbon Offsets in the United States: A Snapshot of U.S. Buyers on the Global Voluntary and California Compliance Markets

While the supply-side of carbon markets is relatively well documented, understanding of demand is more elusive. This report aims to shed light on the demand for carbon offsets in the United States, both among companies purchasing offsets voluntarily and California entities purchasing offsets as part of their compliance obligations under the new greenhouse gas regulation in the state. Our research focuses on three key areas of inquiry: (1) Motivations: Why are firms choosing to purchase carbon offsets? (2) Processes: How are firms navigating the carbon markets? What decision-making processes are firms using when purchasing offsets? What barriers and challenges are firms facing? (3) Preferences: What preferences do buyers exhibit when purchasing offsets? What factors do firms consider when investing in an offset project or portfolio of projects? To answer these questions, we surveyed compliance companies in California, did case studies of five major companies purchasing offsets on the voluntary market, and interviewed dozens of buyers and other market participants. On the voluntary side, we found that companies were motivated largely by corporate social responsibility and public relations. Although each company had different goals for their offsetting program, they all reaped benefits in terms of both environmental sustainability and improved branding. The case studies of Ford, Macmillan, Interface, General Motors, and British Petroleum illustrate several different approaches toward offsetting. In terms of process, we found that most voluntary buyers purchase offsets as part of larger sustainability efforts and spend considerable time and effort quantifying their emissions and defining program goals. They then work with NGOs, consultants, and other advisors to build their offset strategies accordingly. Lastly, in terms of preferences, we found that companies in the voluntary market prefer offsets that are highly visible, have an immediate impact, and pose a low public relations risk. They tend to buy a diverse portfolio of offsets, some of which are “charismatic” and others that are cheaper and/or available in bulk. In the California compliance market, companies are motivated entirely by the AB32 regulation, which requires them to meet an emissions cap. To do so, they have the option to reduce their emissions, purchase allowances, purchase offsets, or do a combination of the three to comply with the law. Since offsets are cheaper than allowances, many compliant entities plan to purchase offsets as a way to reduce costs; however, there may be hidden transaction costs in figuring out how to navigate the offset marketplace. We found that overall, compliance entities are very price-sensitive, with recommendations from partners being a secondary consideration. The projected supply of offsets and differentiated risk across project types may also influence demand for offsets on the California market.Master of ScienceNatural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97426/1/Carbon Offset Demand in the US_Final_April 2013.pd

Impact of Corn Silage Inclusion on Nutrient Digestion and Rumen Fermentation in Finishing Cattle

A digestion study was conducted comparing different inclusions of corn silage used as a roughage source on digestibility, feeding behavior and rumen environment. Treatments consisted of 3 inclusions of corn silage at 0, 7.5 and 15% of the diet DM, and a control treatment with 7.5% alfalfa. As expected, increasing available energy and decreasing roughage (either silage or alfalfa) showed an increase in diet digestibility and ruminal propionate concentrations. However, average ruminal pH was least, with more time spent in subacute acidosis (pH \u3c 5.3) when cattle were fed no roughage. These data suggest that feeding cattle increasing silage inclusions as a roughage source prevented ruminal conditions from entering and remaining in subacute acidosis. Feeding corn silage at 15% gave similar digestibility responses compared to 7.5% alfalfa. Including silage as a roughage source at 15% could help prevent acidosis and digestive upset in feedlot cattle

Effects of Brown Midrib Corn Silage Hybrids with or without Kernel Processing at Harvest on Nutrient Metabolism in Beef Steers

A 2 × 3 factorial digestion study evaluated three corn silage hybrids and kernel processing for finishing steers. The three hybrids included a control corn silage, a brown midrib, and a brown midrib with a softer endosperm. Both brown midrib hybrids had greater fiber digestibility than the traditional control corn silage hybrid. No differences were observed between brown midrib hybrids for all other nutrients. Cattle fed brown midrib hybrids had a lower average ruminal pH compared to the control suggesting more fermentation, but no differences in volatile fatty acid concentration or proportions. Kernel processing had no effect on apparent total tract nutrient digestibility for any nutrients measured in this study. Kernel processing did not impact any ruminal characteristics or metabolism by beef steers. In finishing diets including elevated levels of corn silage, brown midrib corn silage hybrids allow for improved fiber digestibility and more energy available to the animal for improved growth performance over cattle fed control corn silages. Kernel processing did not appear to affect any ruminal fermentation and digestibility parameters, despite an observed improvement in feed efficiency in a similar finishing trial