2,002 research outputs found

    Application of Species Distribution Modeling for Avian Influenza surveillance in the United States considering the North America Migratory Flyways.

    Get PDF
    Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has recently (2014-2015) re-emerged in the United States (US) causing the largest outbreak in US history with 232 outbreaks and an estimated economic impact of $950 million. This study proposes to use suitability maps for Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) to identify areas at high risk for HPAI outbreaks. LPAI suitability maps were based on wild bird demographics, LPAI surveillance, and poultry density in combination with environmental, climatic, and socio-economic risk factors. Species distribution modeling was used to produce high-resolution (cell size: 500m x 500m) maps for Avian Influenza (AI) suitability in each of the four North American migratory flyways (NAMF). Results reveal that AI suitability is heterogeneously distributed throughout the US with higher suitability in specific zones of the Midwest and coastal areas. The resultant suitability maps adequately predicted most of the HPAI outbreak areas during the 2014-2015 epidemic in the US (i.e. 89% of HPAI outbreaks were located in areas identified as highly suitable for LPAI). Results are potentially useful for poultry producers and stakeholders in designing risk-based surveillance, outreach and intervention strategies to better prevent and control future HPAI outbreaks in the US

    Modeling the live-pig trade network in Georgia: Implications for disease prevention and control.

    Get PDF
    Live pig trade patterns, drivers and characteristics, particularly in backyard predominant systems, remain largely unexplored despite their important contribution to the spread of infectious diseases in the swine industry. A better understanding of the pig trade dynamics can inform the implementation of risk-based and more cost-effective prevention and control programs for swine diseases. In this study, a semi-structured questionnaire elaborated by FAO and implemented to 487 farmers was used to collect data regarding basic characteristics about pig demographics and live-pig trade among villages in the country of Georgia, where very scarce information is available. Social network analysis and exponential random graph models were used to better understand the structure, contact patterns and main drivers for pig trade in the country. Results indicate relatively infrequent (a total of 599 shipments in one year) and geographically localized (median Euclidean distance between shipments = 6.08 km; IQR = 0-13.88 km) pig movements in the studied regions. The main factors contributing to live-pig trade movements among villages were being from the same region (i.e., local trade), usage of a middleman or a live animal market to trade live pigs by at least one farmer in the village, and having a large number of pig farmers in the village. The identified villages' characteristics and structural network properties could be used to inform the design of more cost-effective surveillance systems in a country which pig industry was recently devastated by African swine fever epidemics and where backyard production systems are predominant

    The challenge of teaching consumer insights to non-marketing students as a minor in undergraduate studies: Empathy maps as a didactic resource

    Get PDF
    Purpose of the Study: This article shares the teaching experience of introducing non-specialist students to the study of consumer behavior through the use of empathy maps as a learning resource in 2017 and 2018 through courses in one of the Top 10 private universities in Chile for students studying a minor in advertising. Method/Design and Sample: The research design involved a qualitative methodology using data from two advertising courses that contained non-marketing students. Main findings are result of a combination of empirical and documentary sources and were analysed using self- reflection techniques which were supported by a survey on the usefulness of the empathy map as a teaching resource completed by students who participated in these courses. Results: 93.5% of students in the courses recommend learning about them to friends. However, an effective application of empathy maps in this setting brings with it a series of limitations, such as the need for prior training in market research methodologies by learners, which was a particularly difficult requirement to comply with in the setting described herein. Value to Marketing Educators: These compulsory interdisciplinary courses seek to provide the student with knowledge and skills different from those of the degree they are pursuing. The simplicity of empathy maps, as well as the possibility of applying then in a variety of contexts, make them an ideal resource for developing consumer insight for non- marketing students

    Quantitative approach for the risk assessment of African swine fever and Classical swine fever introduction into the United States through legal imports of pigs and swine products.

    Get PDF
    The US livestock safety strongly depends on its capacity to prevent the introduction of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs). Therefore, accurate and updated information on the location and origin of those potential TADs risks is essential, so preventive measures as market restrictions can be put on place. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the current risk of African swine fever (ASF) and Classical swine fever (CSF) introduction into the US through the legal importations of live pigs and swine products using a quantitative approach that could be later applied to other risks. Four quantitative stochastic risk assessment models were developed to estimate the monthly probabilities of ASF and CSF release into the US, and the exposure of susceptible populations (domestic and feral swine) to these introductions at state level. The results suggest a low annual probability of either ASF or CSF introduction into the US, by any of the analyzed pathways (5.5*10-3). Being the probability of introduction through legal imports of live pigs (1.8*10-3 for ASF, and 2.5*10-3 for CSF) higher than the risk of legally imported swine products (8.90*10-4 for ASF, and 1.56*10-3 for CSF). This could be caused due to the low probability of exposure associated with this type of commodity (products). The risk of feral pigs accessing to swine products discarded in landfills was slightly higher than the potential exposure of domestic pigs through swill feeding. The identification of the months at highest risk, the origin of the higher risk imports, and the location of the US states most vulnerable to those introductions (Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin for live swine and California, Florida and Texas for swine products), is valuable information that would help to design prevention, risk-mitigation and early-detection strategies that would help to minimize the catastrophic consequences of potential ASF/CSF introductions into the US

    Rethinking Espinosa: his role in the debates on the aesthetic vindication of Cubism and Picasso’s art in the Canarian cultural context (1920-1930)

    Get PDF
    El presente estudio pretende reflexionar en torno al papel que Agustín Espinosa jugó en la reivindicación del cubismo y de la figura de Pablo Ruiz Picasso durante el primer tercio del siglo xx español. Para ello se parte del análisis filológico e historiográfico de Gaceta de Arte de Tenerife, órgano de difusión de la renovación artístico-cultural en España. La interpretación picassiana de la revista tinerfeña bebe del discurso surrealista parisino, encabezado por André Breton, así como de una serie de precedentes literarios presentes en el ámbito insular ya en la década de 1920. Al profundizar en la obra de Espinosa es posible formular nuevos planteamientos relacionales entre las imágenes literarias del poeta canario y las dinámicas de creación y defensa del cubismo.This study aims to reflect on the role Agustín Espinosa played in the vindication of both Cubism and the figure of Pablo Ruiz Picasso during the first third of the Spanish 20th century. To this end, it starts from a philological and historiographical analysis of Tenerife Gaceta de Arte, vehicle of dissemination of the artistic and cultural renewal in Spain. In this sense, the Picassian discourse of the Tenerife magazine is based on the Parisian surrealist group, headed by André Breton, as well as on a series of literary precedents present in the Canary Islands in the 1920s. When deepening into Espinosa’s work, it is possible to formulate new relational approaches between the literary images of the Canary poet and the Cubist dynamics, together with the defence of the movement

    Navarrízate S. L. U. : déjate abrazar : proyecto de creación de empresa turística

    Get PDF
    Treball Final de Grau en Turisme. Codi: TU0944. Curs: 2015/2016 Universitat Jaume I. DepartamentLa idea surge tras observar que la zona media de Navarra, no existen gran cantidad de empresas que “exploten” el turismo rural como se merece. Es cierto que algunas zonas están más activas, como viene a ser el caso del Palacio Real de Olite, pero aun así la idea que vamos a llevar a cabo, supondrá un gran refuerzo. Para poder estudiar la oferta turística que poseemos, primero debemos analizar el destino turístico y sus diferentes recursos, y para ello realizamos una ficha turística general de los más llamativos, desde el Monasterio de Irache en la zona de Tierra Estella, hasta el Castillo de Javier, ubicado en la zona de Sangüesa. Cuando hablamos de “destino turístico”, lo que pretendemos es conseguir alzar la marca “Zona Media de Navarra”; es decir, a través de visitas guiadas teatralizadas, amenizar el paseo de los turistas informándoles de todo tipo de detalles, haciéndoles ver la riqueza de la Zona. Ofrecemos visitas guiadas a particulares y a grupos concertados, pudiéndose realizar en castellano, euskera, inglés y francés, adaptando el discurso a cada tipo de persona. Igualmente, se organizan visitas a bodegas con catas de vino, y rutas señalizadas por toda la Zona Media. Nuestro principal objetivo es mostrar lo que nos rodea de una manera más peculiar y llamativa. Disponemos de gente profesional en el sector, que hace que la experiencia de ver la Zona Media de Navarra sea inolvidable. En primer lugar, lo que debemos conocer son los recursos culturales, naturales y de ocio que podemos ofrecer, tanto bienes materiales como inmateriales. A continuación, investigar sobre las distintas empresas de turismo que existen en la zona, para poder concluir sobre la idea de negocio. Esta idea se realizará siempre y cuando sea sostenible; es decir, que uniendo espacio, buenas actitudes y trabajo, sea positivo para el espacio indicado

    Body and diet as sales pitches: Spanish teenagers’ perceptions about influencers’ impact on ideal physical appearance

    Get PDF
    This project sits at the intersection of three axes: (a) influencers as the increasing focus of minors’ attention and trust online, (b) sponsored content about eating habits and physical appearance produced by these influencers, and (c) minors’ ability to discern and identify the persuasive intent of said content. The usefulness of analyzing the interplay of these three axes lies in the impact that consumption of this content has on minors’ self-esteem and on the adoption of certain habits that can directly impact their personal well-being. For this reason, this project seeks to provide insight into the social imaginary that influencers’ sponsored speech creates in minors regarding their physical appearance. To this end, a qualitative study with 12 focus groups of minors aged 11–17 years of age who reside in Spain was proposed. Notable among the key results was that the interviewees recognize that they primarily receive commercial messages about food and products related to physical appearance, such as makeup or clothing, from influencers; likewise, they are aware of persuasive tactics used on social networks, such as the construction of a perfect, aspirational world, which minors absorb and accept as part of the digital environment and end up incorporating into their behavior on social networks. This research aims to help demonstrate that teaching critical thinking is a long-term cultural investment that would make the citizens of tomorrow aware, engaged, and active
    corecore