“You Call that Meat?” Investigating Social Media Conversations and Influencers Surrounding Cultured Meat

Cultured meat has yet to reach store shelves but is nonetheless a growing issue for consumers, producers, and government regulators, many of whom have taken to social media to discuss it. Using a conceptual framework of social cognitive theory and issues management, this qualitative content analysis investigated social-media discourse surrounding the topic of cultured meat in the United States by describing the content of the discussion in late 2018 and identifying individual influencers and communities of influencers engaged in the discussion. Data were collected from Twitter using listening platform Sysomos MAP. The thematic analysis revealed eight themes: legality and marketing, sustainability, acceptance, business, animal concerns, science and technology, health concerns, and timeline, and indicated that conflicting views and questions about cultured meat exist among conversation participants. Top influencers included philanthropists, government officials, journalists and writers, and animal-welfare advocates. These influencers were grouped into four distinct communities based on interactions with each other and other users. The topics identified in the analysis provide insight into ways in which communicators can enter these conversations, and influencer communities represent groups of users whose broad reach could more easily transmit pro-agriculture messages

Do Pine Trees in Aspen Stands Increase Bird Diversity

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is being replaced by conifers through fire suppression and successional processes. Al- though the Black Hills National forest is removing conifers (primarily ponderosa pine [Pinus ponderosa])toincreasetheaspencommunitiesinsomemixedstands,ForestPlan guidelines allow four conifers per hectare to remain to increase diversity in the remaining aspen stand. We compared bird species richness in pure ponderosa pine, mixed stands dominated by ponderosa pine with quaking aspen, mixed stands dominated by aspen with ponderosa pine, and pure aspen stands. Stands dominated by ponderosa pine had lower (

Targeting Extension Programs to Opinion Leaders Guiding Genetic Modification Discussions

Despite communication efforts developed to educate the public about genetic modification (GM) science designed to ensure consumers are making educated purchasing decisions, most consumers do not seek out information about GM science and make emotional purchasing decisions. GM supporters and opponents can also be very vocal about their opinions, having an impact on those within their social realms of influence. Using opinion leadership theory, this study sought to identify GM opinion leaders within the U.S. who consider themselves to be outspoken and a source of information for GM science. An online survey was deployed with the purpose of identifying GM opinion leaders, determining their views on GM science, identifying where they go for information, and determining how they want to learn so that Extension professionals can better serve their needs. The findings imply GM science opinion leaders are younger, white or African American men, with a high average family household income, that are well educated. The GM science opinion leaders have a slightly negative attitude toward GM and want to learn about GM science from universities researching GM science and organizations in support of GM science through online mediums. Recommendations are offered for how Extension professionals can reach this audience

Neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy for resectable esophageal cancer: a clinical practice guideline

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the esophagus is an aggressive malignancy with an increasing incidence. Its virulence, in terms of symptoms and mortality, justifies a continued search for optimal therapy. A clinical practice guideline was developed based on a systematic review investigating neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy on resectable thoracic esophageal cancer. METHODS: A systematic review with meta-analysis was developed and clinical recommendations were drafted. External review of the practice guideline report by practitioners in Ontario, Canada was obtained through a mailed survey, and incorporated. Final approval of the practice guideline was obtained from the Practice Guidelines Coordinating Committee. RESULTS: The systematic review was developed and recommendations were drafted, and the report was mailed to Ontario practitioners for external review. Ninety percent of respondents agreed with both the evidence summary and the draft recommendations, while only 69% approved of the draft recommendations as a practice guideline. Based on the external review, a revised document was created. The revised practice guideline was submitted to the Practice Guidelines Coordinating Committee for review. All 11 members of the PGCC returned ballots. Eight PGCC members approved the practice guideline report as written and three members approved the guideline conditional on specific concerns being addressed. After these recommended changes were made, the final practice guideline report was approved. CONCLUSION: In consideration of the systematic review, external review, and subsequent Practice Guidelines Coordinating Committee revision suggestions, and final approval, the Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group recommends the following: For adult patients with resectable thoracic esophageal cancer for whom surgery is considered appropriate, surgery alone (i.e., without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy) is recommended as the standard practice

Seasonal Migration and Home Ranges of Female Elk in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming

Understanding the movement and dispersion patterns of elk (Cervus elaphus) on public lands and the underlying factors that affect each will facilitate elk management and help resolve conflicts between management that benefit elk and other uses of land resources. Consequently, there is a need to identify and examine the movement and dispersion patterns of elk in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Our study quantified seasonal movements, determined home ranges of female elk in two areas of the Black Hills, and examined underlying factors associated with each. Elk in the northern area did not demonstrate seasonal migration patterns. Rather, winter ranges in the northern area were contained mostly within the boundaries of the summer range. Elk in the southern area exhibited a north-south migration pattern that coincided with seasonal patterns of snowfall. These elk migrated to winter range in late November and returned to summer range in late April. Home ranges of elk in the southern area were larger (P \u3c 0.01) than home ranges in the northern area. Landscape characteristics with marginally-significant correlations to elk home range area included road density (P = 0.10), and forage:cover ratio (P = 0.08); density of primary and secondary roads and average slope were significantly correlated with elk home range area (P \u3c 0.01). Managers can use this information to develop strategies that meet population goals and reduce conflicts between management for elk and with other resources

Consumers’ Purchasing Intent Regarding Conventional, Plant-Based, and Cultured Meats

In today’s market, there are a growing number of meat options, from conventional to plant-based to cultured meat. As a result, agricultural and food companies need to understand what influences consumer purchases in order to communicate about these options and understand future changes in the marketplace. This study surveyed a \ sample of Ohio consumers (n = 1,250) 18 and older, which was matched to the state population. Data were collected on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) attributes of consumer attitudes toward purchasing, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control to understand purchasing intent toward conventional, plant-based, and cultured meats. Descriptive results of these TPB attributes showed significant differences between meat options. The biggest difference was observed between the subjective norms of conventional and cultured meat. Additionally, logistic regression showed consumers’ current and future purchasing intent, with conventional meat, to be most affected by subjective norms. Current and future buying intent of plant-based meat, and future buying intent of cultured meat, was found to be most affected by consumers’ attitudes. The food and agricultural industry should use this information to better shape advertising and messaging with consumers about meat options. For conventional meat, agriculturalists should pay attention to consumer interests and perhaps include some social elements in advertising since it is influenced by subjective norms. Further research should explore all attributes of TPB with consumer purchasing intent, but especially with attitudes and subjective norms

When prosocials act like proselfs in a commons dilemma

important that previous research has also shown that the motivation to preserve a common pool is not equally strong for everybody. Although people who seek to maximize collective outcomes (i.e., prosocials) carefully adapt their behavior to an imminent resource shortage by cutting down their consumption, people who seek to maximize own outcomes or differences in outcomes (i.e., proselfs) keep up their high consumption as if resources were still abundant (see Kramer, McClintock, & Messick, 1986). The Kramer et al. (1986) findings illuminate that motivations are relevant to solving the social dilemma at its most important moment—when the common pool is close to being depleted. That is, differences between prosocial and proself motives seem most important when the dilemma is most pronounced and the collec-tive consequences most severe. At the same time, exper-iments examining the effects of personality differences on individual resource consumption have always been conducted in a “perfect world. ” Participants were usu-ally able to realize their intended consumption without any limitations; that is, they could fully translate thei

Performing heritage: the use of live 'actors' in heritage presentations

This paper investigates the phenomenon of 'living history' presentations of heritage, using live 'actors' to portray historical characters. Its aim is to discuss these presentations in the context of what may be understood as 'heritage', and of the nature of 'performance'. Four case studies of heritage sites, each important as a tourist attraction, have been selected for detailed study, together with a number of other examples of heritage performance. It is clear from the empirical work that different performance strategies are employed within the heritage industry and by individual 'actors'. Most of the performers take part as a leisure activity, and many do not consider themselves to be 'performing' at all. The greatest concern of participants lies in the degree of authenticity of the performance. Through 'living history', the 'actors' are drawn into an experience of heritage which has real meaning for them, and which may contribute both to a sense of identity and to an enhanced understanding of society, past and present. The popularity of such presentations with visitors also indicates that similar benefits are perceived by the 'audience'

Room temperature vacuum-deposition of CsPbI2Br perovskite films from multiple-sources and mixed halide precursors

Fully inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites, such as CsPbI2Br, show enhanced thermal stability compared to hybrid ones and are being widely investigated as wide bandgap absorbers for tandem applications. Despite their simple stoichiometry, the preparation of highly crystalline and stable cesium lead halide thin films is not trivial. In general, high-efficiency solar cells based on solution-processed CsPbI2Br thin films are prepared by hightemperature annealing or the use of chemical additives. In this work, we use solvent-free synthesis to investigate the formation of CsPbI2Br in bulk or in thin films via mechanochemical synthesis and multiple-source vacuum deposition, respectively. We demonstrate the importance of fostering halide alloying in the vacuum processing of inorganic lead halide perovskites, which can be attained either by using mixed halide precursors or by increasing the number of precursors (and hence deposition sources). These strategies lead to highly oriented perovskite films even at room temperature, with improved optoelectronic properties. We obtained promising power conversion efficiencies of 8.3% for solar cells employing asdeposited perovskites (without any annealing) and 10.0% for devices based on CsPbI2Br annealed at low temperatures (150 °C). This study allowed us to highlight the most promising processes and strategies to further optimize the material deposition as well as the solar cell architecture