Researching Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Hate Crime Using Semi-Structured Interviews: A Case Study of Combining Overt Interview Data With Data Obtained Covertly

This case study is based on the issues brought up by a research participant who requested a copy of their interview data, given for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender hate crime project. The co-authors of this study are the two stakeholders involved in this exchange. James, the researcher, was approached by Chloe, the participant, who wished to use the interview recording in combination with a meeting recording that they had carried out secretly, for the purposes of an art project. The authors reflect on the ethical dimensions of this request, concluding that the ownership of data is unclear. Although using both recordings together risked contaminating the overt data gathered for the project, the dilemma was resolved by a consent agreement that allowed access to the interview data for the sole purposes of the art project. This case study highlights the ethical complexities of both covert and overt data gathering. Readers are encouraged to question the ethical integrity of gathering covert data and to reflect on the ethical ramifications of using both methods in conjunction

Development of a Particle-in-Cell/Monte Carlo Simulation for Weakly Ionized Plasmas

A plasma is a gaseous system that contains large numbers of electrons and ions that are subject to forces produced by electric and magnetic fields. Weakly ionized plasmas, where the plasma density is much lower than the background gas density, are common in laboratory, atmospheric, and astrophysical situations. Theoretical calculations of plasma properties are challenging due to the complexity of the differential equations used to characterize fundamental physics. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations bypass the mathematical difficulties associated with analytic models, at the expense of more complex and time-consuming computer calculations. In this work we developed a one dimensional PIC simulation of a weakly ionized plasma. We use a Monte Carlo technique to include a simplified model of electron-gas and ion-gas collisions. The results of preliminary simulations give good qualitative agreement with simplified theoretical models of plasma sheath formation and ambipolar diffusion

Potential repellency of cedarwood oil from a novel extraction method to stored product insects

Producers lose 10-30% of crops during storage, processing, and marketing after harvest each year to stored product insects (1,2). Globally, there has been a rise in insecticide resistance to phosphine, the most common fumigant for these pests (3). As a result, producers need to diversify post-harvest IPM methods to preserve existing tools. One alternative strategy is push-pull, whereby a repellent is used to “push” an insect away from the commodity of interest, while also simultaneously “pulling” the insects to an alternate location away from the commodity using an attractant (4)(Fig. 1). This system notably requires a long-distance repellent. One potential repellent includes cedarwood oil, which has shown repellency to termites and ants (5,6). A novel extraction process for this compound has been developed, which leaves many of its main constituents intact (7). However, to date, this compound has never been assessed for repellency to post-harvest insects

Model Size in Magazine Advertising and Body Esteem among Female College Students: The Moderating Role of BMI

Weight and body concerns have reached epidemic proportions among female college students. Such high levels of body dissatisfaction can lead to disastrous results. Since the mass media is considered an important purveyor of the thin ideal, the present study investigated the impact model size in magazine advertising has on the body esteem of female college students. Because it is unlikely that all women will respond similarly to the models depicted in such ads, the present study tested the potentially moderating role of Body Mass Index (BMI) on the model size – body esteem relationship. As hypothesized, subject BMI did moderate this relationship. Findings suggest that low/normal BMI females respond differently to skinny and plus-size models portrayed in magazine ads compared to their high BMI counterparts

Does Thin Always Sell? The Moderating Role of Thin Ideal Internalization on Advertising Effectiveness

Much of the current focus on the use of ultra-thin models in fashion magazines can be attributed to Madison Avenue which still operates under a “Thin Sells” ethos. Research to date, however, has provided equivocal evidence of the efficacy of thin models in advertising (Yu 2014). The present study’s two related objectives include: (1) determining whether model size has an impact on advertising effectiveness, and (2) if internalization of the thin ideal moderates this relationship. Study results suggest model size in fashion advertisements has no main effect on advertising effectiveness. Additionally, thin ideal internalization moderates the model size – advertising effectiveness relationship. Women who internalized the thin ideal were more receptive to thin models compared to average-size models. For low internalizers, model size has no significant impact on advertising effectiveness. These findings suggest that the current “thin sells” fixation is a gross oversimplification of how women respond to advertising. Directions for future research and study limitations are discussed

A Hybrid Sequencing Approach Completes the Genome Sequence of Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW 200

Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW 200 has been identified as a potential sustainable biofuel producer due to its ability to readily ferment carbohydrates to ethanol. A hybrid sequencing approach, combining Oxford Nanopore and Illumina DNA sequence reads, was applied to produce a single contiguous genome sequence of 2,911,280 bp

Cover crop biomass production is more important than diversity for weed suppression

Biotic resistance theory suggests that diverse cover crop mixes may be more effective at weed suppression than a cover crop monoculture. However, evidence for this has so far been inconsistent. To investigate, we designed a trial to explicitly test the role of cover crop diversity in weed suppression by comparing eight cover crop mixes that varied in species diversity, functional diversity, and composition. Mixes contained either one, four, or eight species, in equal proportions. Three mixes contained only cereal species, three contained only legumes, and two contained a mix of cereals, legumes, and brassicas. Research was conducted on two farms in South Africa’s winter rainfall region, replicated over 2 yr. Indicators of resource uptake by each mix in terms of light, soil N, and water were measured at three time points throughout the season, approximately 50, 85, and 110 d after emergence (DAE). Aboveground biomass (dry weight) of cover crops and weeds within each mix was measured twice, at approximately 70 and 120 DAE. Regression analyses indicated that cover crop biomass was key to resource uptake and weed suppression, and that early-season N and later-season light availability had the strongest influence on weed biomass. Neither species diversity nor functional diversity affected resource uptake or weed suppression by cover crops. These results indicate that it is important to consider the competitiveness of individual species when designing cover crop mixes. Diverse mixes remain valuable to perform multiple functions but may contribute to weed problems if composed of poorly competitive species

Ultrasonic noise emissions from wind turbines: potential effects on bat species

The impact that wind turbines have on the environment, particularly with respect to wildlife such as bat species, has generated increasing concern over the last decade. Although the harnessing of wind power is becoming much more widespread as a clean, renewable energy resource, the increasing global turbine mortality rates for bats are thought to be significantly detrimental to susceptible species. Much research is still needed to fully understand the ways in which turbines affect bats, since they rely on echolocation and audible cues to hunt and navigate, therefore having a unique acoustic perspective of objects in their vicinity. Here we present an overview of what is currently known regarding ultrasonic emissions from operational wind turbine structures, including noise generated from the gearing mechanism, rotor, or through blade defects, and how such noise may be perceptible to some bat species in the local turbine habitat

Delayed effects of a 20-min crushed ice application on knee joint position sense assessed by a functional task during a re-warming period

Delayed effects of a 20-minute crushed ice application on knee joint position sense assessed by a functional task during a re-warming period. Introduction The effect of cryotherapy on joint positioning presents conflicting debates as to whether individuals are at an increased risk of injury when returning to play following cryotherapy application at the lower limb. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether a 20 minute application of crushed ice at the knee affects knee joint position sense immediately post and up to 20 mins post ice removal, during a small knee bend. Method 17 healthy male participants took part in the study performing a functional task. Using three-dimensional motion analysis (Qualisys Medical AB Gothenburg, Sweden), kinematics of the knee were measured during a weight bearing functional task pre and immediately post, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes post cryotherapy intervention. Skin surface temperature (Tsk) cooling was measured via infrared non-contact thermal imaging (Flir Systems, Danderyd, Sweden) over the anterior and medial aspect of the knee. Results Results demonstrated significant reductions in the ability to accurately replicate knee joint positioning. A significant increase (P ≧ 0.05) in rotational movement in the transverse plane occurred, 20 minutes post ice removal. Discussion A 20-minute application of crushed ice to the anterior aspect of the non-dominant knee has an adverse effect on knee joint repositioning and dynamic stability, 20 minutes after ice is removed. In consideration of returning a land-based athlete to dynamic functional activities, post cryotherapeutic intervention at the knee, clinicians should consider these findings due to the potential increase risk of injur