Towards gender-responsive banana research for development in the East-African Highlands

Banana production is an important livelihood for farming households in the East-African highlands as food and as a source of income. Banana is a crop with a long history in this region. Although not originating from Africa, it is believed bananas have been cultivated in this region since 2000 BC. It is not surprising that the technical aspects of banana production are intertwined with rituals, habits, and social norms. In this guide, we highlight and discuss social norms surrounding banana production, zooming in specifically on gender norms. Understanding these norms coupled with the ability to address them is essential for the development and design of high-quality banana-focused research for development (R4D) projects which benefit men as well as women

Continuity and change: Negotiating gender norms in agricultural research for development in Rwanda

This resource is for research and development practitioners working in agriculture and rural development in Rwanda. The objective is to provide information about the ways in which gender norms in Eastern Rwanda are changing, and which ones remain persistent. It finds that despite broader institutional changes, men’s and women’s roles and relations in relation to farming, and the gender norms governing them, are changing in piecemeal ways

Integration of gender considerations in climate-smart agriculture R4D in South Asia: Useful research questions

Aimed at researchers working with climate-smart agriculture in South Asia, this resource suggests a set of issues to consider in relation to the integration of gender in climate-smart agricultural research for development. Climate change often exacerbates the problems and inequities that poor rural women face. The feminization of agriculture underscores the need to ensure that both men and women are able to learn about, try out, take up, and benefit from improved agricultural technologies, including climate-smart practices

Integrating trap-neuter-return campaigns into a social framework: developing long-term positive behaviour change towards unowned cats in urban areas

Cat management is often discussed in terms of population reduction, with trap-neuter-return (TNR) campaigns commonly organized to manage unowned urban cat populations. However, long-term effectiveness is only possible if positive neutering practices are continued by local residents. Here we discuss how implementing TNR within a wider framework of social engagement has the potential to tackle cat overpopulation and instill long-term positive behavior change toward them. We demonstrate how community engagement pre-TNR can help establish a baseline of the attitudes, knowledge and behavior concerning cats. Using a case study, we explore whether this information can be linked with positive intended behavior based on intentions to arrange for neutering of unowned cats. Structural equation modeling indicated that negative attitudes toward cats and reduced knowledge around neutering reduced the likelihood of positive intended behavior. This result was underpinned by the indirect effects of perceptions of unowned cats and reduced understanding of their needs. Utilizing these results alongside an understanding of the values and motivation of the community allows for tailored and targeted education and intervention. In turn, this addresses the underlying knowledge gaps and perceptions regarding cat welfare. This framework can help address the challenge of cat management because it: (1) takes an integrative approach to identifying the motivations of communities to take responsibility for unowned cats; (2) changes the structure of the social environment, encouraging positive neutering practices for unowned cats. In turn this improves the impact and longevity of TNR campaigns whilst promoting positive welfare change for unowned and owned cats; and (3) appreciates that opinions are likely to vary hugely between areas, therefore providing an adaptable community level approach

Use and perception of collars for companion cats in New Zealand

Aims: To investigate public perceptions of the use of collars for companion cats in New Zealand. To understand perceptions around safety and efficacy of collar use. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to members of the public via social media. The questionnaire collected details of respondents, cat ownership status, and responses to a number of questions regarding collar use in cats. Data were analysed using SPSS analytical software v21.0 for Windows (IBM Inc., Chicago IL, USA). Results were considered significant if p≤0.05. Results: A total of 512 responses were collected, 393 (76.9%) respondents reported owning at least one cat at the time of survey, of which 141 (36.4%) stated that at least some of their cats wore collars and 211 (54%) had at least one of their cats micro-chipped. Of the respondents with a pet cat, 351 (90%) allowed their cats outdoor access at least some of the time. Respondents 20 used collars for identification, and to reduce predation of birds and other animals. Reasons for not using collars included cat intolerance of collars, repeated collar loss and concern over collar safety. Respondents felt collars could cause injury if caught on objects, or if too tight, and many believed ‘not all cats will tolerate a collar’. Significant differences were found between cat owners and non-owners regarding whether cats were important for pest control; whether cats will tolerate collars; whether being well fed influences cat hunting behaviour; whether cats should be kept indoors at night; and whether a cat without a collar was likely to be a stray. Respondents trusted veterinarians and the SPCA most as sources of pet care information. Conclusion: Collar use for companion cats in New Zealand appeared to be low. Cat owners perceived a number of barriers to the use of collars which may be imagined, or result from incorrect use. Collars may be useful for improving animal welfare allowing rapid identification , improved rates of returns to owners and prompt medical interventions in the case of injury. Collars with attached devices such as bells are also useful to reduce the impact of domestic cats on both native and introduced wildlife, and may improve public perceptions of stray/wandering cats. Relevance: A number of concerns have been raised in recent years about the negative impacts of cats on New Zealand’s natural environment, and the possibility of poor welfare among unowned cats. Understanding the perceived importance of cat collars and exploration of the perceived barriers to their use are vital to enhance our understanding of cat ownership, cat identification and impact of cat predation. This understanding can help to guide development of policies and practices to improve animal welfare, reduce the negative impact of pet predation, and promote responsible pet ownership

Human-cat relationship in an oceanic biosphere reserve: the case of La Palma Island, Canary archipelago

Removal of feral cats from island environments is a useful mechanism by which their ecological impact on endangered species can be reduced or ended. Nevertheless, because cats are anthropogenic in their origins, social perceptions of management practices play a large role in their implementation. Four-hundred questionnaires were delivered (386 were returned) with 100 going to each of the following: local residents; environmental workers; tourists; and, hunters. Questions explored respondents’ knowledge about island biodiversity and invasive species as well as attitudes towards cat population management methods. Habitat destruction and introduction of invasive species were considered the main threats for the conservation of island biodiversity. Most respondents considered cats to have a negative impact on biodiversity and sterilization campaigns were considered most appropriate for cat population control. Several free sterilization campaigns have been conducted in La Palma Island Biosphere Reserve in order to reduce free-ranging cats and were well received by local people. This research, which combined concepts of management, ecology and social sciences, provides valuable insights which may to be applicable on several other islands where cats and people are present and in conflict with conservation priorities

Tourists' perceptions of the free-roaming dog population in Samoa

A study was undertaken to establish how visiting tourists to Samoa perceived free-roaming dogs (Canis familiaris) and their management, additionally some factors that influence their perceptions were assessed. Questionnaires were administered to 281 tourists across Samoa over 5 weeks. Free-roaming dogs were seen by 98.2% (n = 269/274) of respondents, with 64.9% (n = 137/211) reporting that their presence had a negative effect on overall holiday experience. Respondents staying in the Apia (capital city) area were more likely to consider dogs a problem (p < 0.0001), and there was a significant association between whether the respondent owned a dog and if they thought dogs were a nuisance in Samoa (p < 0.003). Forty-four percent (20/89) of non-dog owners agreed that dogs were a nuisance compared to 22% (80/182) of dog owners. The majority felt that dogs required better control and management in Samoa (81%, n = 222) and that there were too many “stray” dogs (67.9%, n = 188). More respondents were negatively affected by the dogs’ presence (64.9%, 137/211), and felt that the dogs made their holiday worse, than respondents that felt the dogs’ presence improved their holiday experience (35.1%, 74/211). Most respondents stated that the dogs had a low impact (one to three; 68%, 187/275) on their stay in Samoa, whilst 24% (65/275) and 8% (23/275) stated they had a medium or high impact, respectively, on their stay. Respondents showed strong support for humane population management. Free-roaming dogs present a complex problem for Samoa and for its tourism industry in particular. The findings of this study further support the need for more discussion and action about the provision of veterinary services and population management for dogs in Samoa. It also provides information complementing an earlier study of the attitudes of local Samoans

An economic evaluation of a fractured hip management program, CHERE Discussion Paper No 8

An evaluation of the Fractured Hip Management Program was conducted, in order to assess its cost effectiveness relative to treatment of these patients without the program. A before-and-after study design was used to identify the impact of the program on the length of hospital stay and outcome, for patients with hip fracture. Program opportunity costs were compared to the opportunity costs of the patient bed-days released by the program. This evaluation demonstrated that the value of resources released as a result of the program exceeded the value of resources consumed by the program by $73,506 in the six month period studied. The financial implications of this result depends on how released resources are used. If bed days released are used to treat other patients financial flows may increase. If beds are closed the financial savings will be considerably lower than the opportunity costs reported in this document. No detrimental effects on patient health were observed and patients were less likely to be admitted to a nursing home under the program.Economic evaluation, hip fracture

The oxygen isotope effect in the ab-plane reflectance of underdoped YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-delta}

We have measured the effect of oxygen isotope substitution on the ab-plane reflectance of underdoped YBCO. The frequency shift of the transverse optic phonons due to the substitution of O-16 by O-18 yields an isotope effect of the expected magnitude for copper-oxygen stretching modes with alpha=0.5 +- 0.1. The reflectance shoulder at 400 - 500 cm^-1 shows a much smaller exponent of alpha=0.1 +- 0.1 in the normal state and alpha=0.23+- 0.1 in the superconducting state. These observations suggest that the shoulder is of electronic origin and not due to a phonon mode as has been suggested recently.Comment: 4 pages 2 figure