Surveillance in contemporary livestock production systems

The objectives of this research were to explore the use of swine oral fluids, a type of aggregate sample, in infectious disease surveillance. In Chapter 2, the uses and surveillance applications of aggregate samples are reviewed. As reported in the refereed literature, bulk tank milk samples from ovine, bovine, and caprine herds have been tested to determine disease status and herd immunity. Likewise, swine producers and veterinarians have used oral fluid testing for disease detection and the evaluation of herd immunity. In Chapter 3, sampling guidelines for oral fluid surveillance in commercial swine herds are presented. These guidelines are the result of field-based research in which oral fluids were collected weekly from 3 barns on one wean-to-finish farm for 9 weeks and tested for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) RNA. Results were modeled using a piecewise exponential survival model to provide estimates of the probability of detection by disease prevalence, sample size, and diagnostic assay performance. Notably, this study showed that fixed spatial sampling was as good, if not better, than simple random sampling and that probability of detection on a swine farm improved significantly when multiple barns on the farm were sampled. In Chapter 4, a combined IgM-IgA PRRSV oral fluid ELISA was evaluated for its ability to detect pig-derived antibody produced in response to infection in the presence of maternal antibody. Two studies were performed. In Study 1 (experimental conditions), oral fluid samples were collected daily from 12 PRRSV-negative pigs from days post vaccination (DPV) -7 to DPV 42. Pigs were vaccinated using a modified-live PRRS vaccine on DPV 0. In Study 2 (field conditions), oral fluids were collected weekly from 3 wean-to-finish sites, each with 3 barns, for a total of 9 samplings. Testing of oral fluids from both studies by IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgM-IgA ELISAs showed that the IgM-IgA ELISA was able to detect pig-derived IgM and IgA in the face of circulating maternal antibody and that the combined IgM-IgA assay provided better performance than detection of either IgM or IgA alone

Investigation of the Exraction Processes and Performance Properties of Kudzu Fibers

While kudzu was introduced into the Southeastern United states for soil erosion and increase of land fertility, the plant has become unmanageable and is rapidly spreading to Canada. Japanese traditional craftsmen extract long, white fibers by labor intensive practices not feasible for 21st century commercial fiber production. This research investigated extraction by boiling, retting or fermentation, enzymatic combinations, and mild chemical processes. Two types of fibers were resultant- soft fibers and compact woody fibers. These fibers types were assessed for microscopic visual appearance, elemental analysis using EDAX SEM, and tensile strengths for the four extraction processes. In all extraction cases, the resultant amount of woody kudzu fibers was 2-5 times that of soft fibers. Breaking elongation of both soft and woody fibers was very high as compared to that of cotton fibers. Chemical processes improved the strength of soft fibers to a very high degree, averaging 19.89kg/tex

Agritourism As A Catalyst For Improving The Quality Of The Life In Rural Regions: A Study From A Developed Country

Poverty is not limited to underdeveloped and developing countries; it is a reality for developed countries as well, and the United States of American is no exception. Using a case study approach and a social accounting matrix (SAM) model with household disaggregation, this study shows that tourism can be a catalyst to alleviate poverty and unemployment in rural regions of developed countries. This study shows that agriculture, the primary economic activity of these regions, can be developed as agritourism attractions and destinations, helping the sustenance of these regions. © 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved

Understanding Why Women Work In Five-Star Hotels In A Developing Country And Their Work-Related Problems

This study investigated why women work in five-star hotels in a developing country and what type of problems they face when working in these organizations. The empirical data was collected via a survey from 571 women working in five-star hotels in Turkey. Having formal training and education in tourism, high interest in the industry, and enjoyment of working in tourism were the most important reasons for the participants to work in tourism organizations. The study findings further reveal that lack of sufficient time for friends and relatives, low wages and the difficulty of getting a promotion were the main job-related problems for women working in five-star hotels in Turkey. The research findings provide partial support for previous studies but also provide additional insights into this relatively under researched area. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Collaborative Destination Marketing: A Case Study of A Tri-County Agri-Tourism Destination in Ohio

This article explores how small neighboring destinations with limited tourism products and resources can collaborate in marketing their destinations. Based on a critical literature review, a conceptual framework was developed and empirical data was collected via document analysis, a focus group interview as well as in-depth semi-structured interviews with senior executives of three convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) in Ohio. The research findings suggest that forming partnerships among neighboring destinations is beneficial for all participating CVBs in terms of enhancing product portfolio, cost reduction, and efficiency. However, there can be major challenges in developing and sustaining such long-term partnerships which include differing priorities, different marketing directions, and limited resources. The research findings further suggest that achieving results from such a partnership may take a considerable amount of effort and time. The research findings imply that executives of CVBs need to be informed and educated not only about advantages of forming such partnerships and how they can form such partnerships but also how they can overcome potential challenges together in this endeavor. The research results also suggest that informal working relationships and trust among executives of neighboring CVBs are crucial in forming and maintaining such a partnership. Discussions and implications based on the study results are also provided

Regional Destination Marketing: A Collaborative Approach

This article explores how small neighboring destinations with limited tourism products and resources can collaborate in marketing their destinations. Based on a critical literature review, a conceptual framework was developed and empirical data was collected via document analysis, a focus group interview as well as in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with senior executives of three convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) in Ohio. The research findings suggest that forming partnerships among neighboring destinations is beneficial for all participating CVBs in terms of enhancing product portfolio, cost reduction, and efficiency. However, there can be major challenges in developing and sustaining such long‐term partnerships which include differing priorities, different marketing directions, and limited resources. The research findings further suggest that achieving results from such a partnership may take a considerable amount of effort and time. The research findings imply that executives of CVBs need to be informed and educated not only about advantages of forming such partnerships and how they can form such partnerships but also how they can overcome potential challenges together in this endeavor. The research results also suggest that informal working relationships and trust among executives of neighboring CVBs are crucial in forming and maintaining such a partnership. Discussions and implications based on the study results are also provided

Collaborative Destination Marketing: A Case Study of A Tri-County Agri-Tourism Destination in Ohio

This article explores how small neighboring destinations with limited tourism products and resources can collaborate in marketing their destinations. Based on a critical literature review, a conceptual framework was developed and empirical data was collected via document analysis, a focus group interview as well as in-depth semi-structured interviews with senior executives of three convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) in Ohio. The research findings suggest that forming partnerships among neighboring destinations is beneficial for all participating CVBs in terms of enhancing product portfolio, cost reduction, and efficiency. However, there can be major challenges in developing and sustaining such long-term partnerships which include differing priorities, different marketing directions, and limited resources. The research findings further suggest that achieving results from such a partnership may take a considerable amount of effort and time. The research findings imply that executives of CVBs need to be informed and educated not only about advantages of forming such partnerships and how they can form such partnerships but also how they can overcome potential challenges together in this endeavor. The research results also suggest that informal working relationships and trust among executives of neighboring CVBs are crucial in forming and maintaining such a partnership. Discussions and implications based on the study results are also provided

Hospitality Managers’ Price-Ending Beliefs: A Survey and Applications

The use of just-below pricing (such as pricing an item at $6.99 or$6.95, rather than $7.00) has been common in some segments of the hospitality industry (such as quick-service and mid-scale dining). The results of a detailed survey of the price-ending beliefs of hospitality managers show that many believe that just-below prices connote good value and round-number prices connote high quality. Furthermore, the majority of these managers believe that consumers tend to drop off or otherwise give insufficient consideration to a price’s rightmost digits. Although one might expect this drop-off belief among those managers who use just-below price endings, it is found also in a majority of those managers who do not use just-below price endings. The survey results suggest that managers who decline the benefits of a consumer drop-off tendency do so because they also believe in one or more possible negative consequences of using just-below price endings. These include the beliefs that just-below endings (1) impair perceptions of high quality, (2) work against an upscale image, (3) give an impression of not being fully honest or straightforward, and (4) involve inconvenience in calculating or communicating the price or in making change

Hospitality Managers’ Price-Ending Beliefs: A Survey and Applications

The use of just-below pricing (such as pricing an item at $6.99 or$6.95, rather than $7.00) has been common in some segments of the hospitality industry (such as quick-service and mid-scale dining). The results of a detailed survey of the price-ending beliefs of hospitality managers show that many believe that just-below prices connote good value and round-number prices connote high quality. Furthermore, the majority of these managers believe that consumers tend to drop off or otherwise give insufficient consideration to a price’s rightmost digits. Although one might expect this drop-off belief among those managers who use just-below price endings, it is found also in a majority of those managers who do not use just-below price endings. The survey results suggest that managers who decline the benefits of a consumer drop-off tendency do so because they also believe in one or more possible negative consequences of using just-below price endings. These include the beliefs that just-below endings (1) impair perceptions of high quality, (2) work against an upscale image, (3) give an impression of not being fully honest or straightforward, and (4) involve inconvenience in calculating or communicating the price or in making change