Engaging audiences: an analysis of social media usage in advertising

The growing usage of social media indicates a potentially effective new platform for advertisers. However, little academic research examines how advertisers use these platforms for marketing and communications. This study sought to provide an analysis of current commercial social media usage by conducting interviews at a digital creative agency and full-service agency, in addition to conducting a statewide online survey of advertising professionals. Results indicated that advertisers use social media differently than they do traditional forms of advertising media. In the current digital media environment, advertisers must provide value or an added benefit to the consumer to gain their attention. Furthermore, companies should view social media platforms as long-term investments and, in doing so, invest time and resources to developing and sustaining them. Finally, whether or not a brand chooses to participate in social media, every company should understand these networks and use them for their researching capabilities. The results of this study not only provide background on social media usage in advertising, but also provide valuable insight for current practitioners and help reduce the academician-practitioner gap

Genetic Differentiation and Phenotypic Plasticity of Forest Herbaceous Species in Iowa, Central United States

The forest herbaceous layer provides important ecosystem services in the central United States. However, human impacts have caused declines of many of these species. Restoration of this layer is uncommon in temperate forests, so best practices are not yet established. There has been widespread concern about negative outcomes (for example, failure due to genetic swamping or outbreeding depression) when plant material is transferred beyond a local scale. Current practice is to use local sources under the assumption that they are optimal genotypes for the site. However, few local sources are available for many species. We examined genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity by comparing performance of local and non-local populations (from sites approximately 250 km apart) of six forest herbaceous species. We used a common garden study to test for genetic differences in plant traits, and a field study to test for phenotypic plasticity. Based on the common garden we found genetic differences between local and non-local populations for each species. Trait differences we observed in greenhouse trials we also detected in the field in the first year. However, these differences diminished in the second year of the field study and we did not detect them in the four species measured in the third year. This provided evidence that phenotypic plasticity was operating, as plant characters responded plastically to local conditions. We found no evidence that local plants consistently outperformed non-local plants. These results suggest less need for strict adherence to locally sourced seeds or transplants

Building a feral future: Open questions in crop ferality.

The phenomenon of feral crops, that is, free-living populations that have established outside cultivation, is understudied. Some researchers focus on the negative consequences of domestication, whereas others assert that feral populations may serve as useful pools of genetic diversity for future crop improvement. Although research on feral crops and the process of feralization has advanced rapidly in the last two decades, generalizable insights have been limited by a lack of comparative research across crop species and other factors. To improve international coordination of research on this topic, we summarize the current state of feralization research and chart a course for future study by consolidating outstanding questions in the field. These questions, which emerged from the colloquium “Darwins' reversals: What we now know about Feralization and Crop Wild Relatives” at the BOTANY 2021 conference, fall into seven categories that span both basic and applied research: (1) definitions and drivers of ferality, (2) genetic architecture and pathway, (3) evolutionary history and biogeography, (4) agronomy and breeding, (5) fundamental and applied ecology, (6) collecting and conservation, and (7) taxonomy and best practices. These questions serve as a basis for ferality researchers to coordinate research in these areas, potentially resulting in major contributions to food security in the face of climate change

Untold Stories--Chinatown Health Fair & The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

Untold Stories in Public Health is a course that introduces students to individuals, groups, and events whose impact on public health have been left out of US history. From African American physicians whose work has gone unnoticed to policy makers whose legacy has yet to be written, this course reviews the unsung heroes, their impact, the discrimination and structural racism they faced, and the work they left behind. You can learn more about the class and project on the website: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/academics/departments/health-policy-management/news-events/untold-stories

Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Native Plants and Local Ecotypes in Ecological Restoration

Many scientists and land managers recommend using local ecotypes for restoration projects. However, there is not a scientific consensus on what constitutes “local.” To gain information about production and use of locally sourced plant material, we surveyed two stakeholder groups, conservation professionals and nursery professionals, to learn if there were differences between these stakeholder groups in terms of use, sale, or perception of native and local ecotype plant material. Our survey results indicated that both conservation and nursery professionals are aware of the ecological and functional value of native plant communities, and are also familiar with associated plant sourcing issues. However, nursery professionals provide less local ecotype and source-certified plant material in their businesses than would meet the need expressed by conservation professionals for these materials. Conservation professionals also indicated that their organizations did not necessarily have specific guidelines for sourcing local ecotype native plant material. Although nursery professionals are aware of restoration techniques and the usefulness of local ecotypes, this does not appear to translate into provision of larger quantities of native, local ecotype, or source-certified plant material. We found that members of both stakeholder groups rely on trusted authorities and professional training for information, presenting an opportunity to reach both groups through combined workshops to encourage communication and facilitate availability of native plants for restoration.This is a manuscript of an article published as Altrichter, Emily A., Janette R. Thompson, and Catherine M. Mabry. "Stakeholders’ perceptions of native plants and local ecotypes in ecological restoration." Ecological Restoration 35, no. 3 (2017): 218-227. doi:10.3368/er.35.3.218. Posted with permission

Genetic Differentiation and Phenotypic Plasticity of Forest Herbaceous Species in Iowa, Central United States

The forest herbaceous layer provides important ecosystem services in the central United States. However, human impacts have caused declines of many of these species. Restoration of this layer is uncommon in temperate forests, so best practices are not yet established. There has been widespread concern about negative outcomes (for example, failure due to genetic swamping or outbreeding depression) when plant material is transferred beyond a local scale. Current practice is to use local sources under the assumption that they are optimal genotypes for the site. However, few local sources are available for many species. We examined genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity by comparing performance of local and non-local populations (from sites approximately 250 km apart) of six forest herbaceous species. We used a common garden study to test for genetic differences in plant traits, and a field study to test for phenotypic plasticity. Based on the common garden we found genetic differences between local and non-local populations for each species. Trait differences we observed in greenhouse trials we also detected in the field in the first year. However, these differences diminished in the second year of the field study and we did not detect them in the four species measured in the third year. This provided evidence that phenotypic plasticity was operating, as plant characters responded plastically to local conditions. We found no evidence that local plants consistently outperformed non-local plants. These results suggest less need for strict adherence to locally sourced seeds or transplants.This article is published as Altrichter, Emily A., Catherine M. Mabry, Janette R. Thompson, and Randall K. Kolka. "Genetic Differentiation and Phenotypic Plasticity of Forest Herbaceous Species in Iowa, Central United States." Ecological Restoration 38, no. 3 (2020): 160-168. doi: 10.3368/er.38.3.160.</p

Jane Jacobs and the Value of Older, Smaller Buildings

Problem, research strategy, and findings: In recent years, some economists and urban development advocates have argued that historic preservation is fundamentally at odds with a growing, diverse economy. We supply empirical support for Jane Jacobs\u27s (1961) seminal argument about the value of “plain, ordinary, low-value old buildings,” finding that older, smaller buildings support dense, diverse streets and neighborhoods (p. 187). We use spatial regression models to analyze how social and economic activity relate to building characteristics in Seattle (WA), San Francisco (CA), Tucson (AZ), and Washington, DC. On a per commercial square foot basis, areas with older, smaller buildings and mixed-vintage blocks support more jobs in new businesses, small businesses, and businesses in creative industries. However, while areas with older, smaller buildings have greater diversity of resident age and higher proportions of small businesses, we also find lower proportions of Hispanic and non-White residents, indicating limited racial and ethnic diversity. Takeaway for practice: Focusing on new construction alone to achieve denser, more sustainable cities elides the important role that older, smaller buildings play in dense, diverse neighborhoods. Planners should support the preservation and reuse of older buildings and the integration of old and new buildings. Relevant policies include adaptive reuse ordinances, performance-based energy codes, context-sensitive form-based coding, and deregulation of parking requirements

Research gaps and opportunities in precision nutrition : an NIH workshop report

Precision nutrition is an emerging concept that aims to develop nutrition recommendations tailored to different people's circumstances and biological characteristics. Responses to dietary change and the resulting health outcomes from consuming different diets may vary significantly between people based on interactions between their genetic backgrounds, physiology, microbiome, underlying health status, behaviors, social influences, and environmental exposures. On 11-12 January 2021, the National Institutes of Health convened a workshop entitled "Precision Nutrition: Research Gaps and Opportunities" to bring together experts to discuss the issues involved in better understanding and addressing precision nutrition. The workshop proceeded in 3 parts: part I covered many aspects of genetics and physiology that mediate the links between nutrient intake and health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer disease, and cancer; part II reviewed potential contributors to interindividual variability in dietary exposures and responses such as baseline nutritional status, circadian rhythm/sleep, environmental exposures, sensory properties of food, stress, inflammation, and the social determinants of health; part III presented the need for systems approaches, with new methods and technologies that can facilitate the study and implementation of precision nutrition, and workforce development needed to create a new generation of researchers. The workshop concluded that much research will be needed before more precise nutrition recommendations can be achieved. This includes better understanding and accounting for variables such as age, sex, ethnicity, medical history, genetics, and social and environmental factors. The advent of new methods and technologies and the availability of considerably more data bring tremendous opportunity. However, the field must proceed with appropriate levels of caution and make sure the factors listed above are all considered, and systems approaches and methods are incorporated. It will be important to develop and train an expanded workforce with the goal of reducing health disparities and improving precision nutritional advice for all Americans