Consumer Preferences for Organic and Fair Trade Chocolate: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture in the Developing World

This paper examines results of a consumer survey measuring consumer awareness and attitudes concerning two labels, certified organic and certified Fair Trade. These labels provide information about the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the production and marketing practices of goods imported from the developing world. Conjoint analysis is used to measure how consumers value organic and fair trade compared to other attributes like price. Results indicate favorable attitudes and value placed on these the sustainable attributes, and imply a role for these labels to provide incentives for the adoption of more sustainable practices.conjoint analysis, Fair Trade, organic, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

ECONOMIES OF SIZE IN PROCESSING MANUFACTURED DAIRY PRODUCTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SOUTHERN DAIRY INDUSTRY

Livestock Production/Industries,

Electronic Dance Music: From Deviant Subculture to Culture Industry

Utilizing a mixed qualitative research methods design, including interviews, ethnographic field work, and analyzing historical documents, I examine the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) subculture, since its inception in the late 80s as a deviant subculture. Previous studies of raves and other music subcultures focus almost exclusively on the role of popularity in transforming the subculture. In this research, I found, in the case of EDM at least, a more complicated process in which structural factors such as mass media, public officials (politicians and law enforcement), and major music corporations played a prominent role in the transformation. Media coverage focused on sensationalized cases of widespread drug use, while public officials responded by passing and enforcing legislation that forced EDM organizers into more legitimate venues. This change in venue brought them to the attention of the music industry, who saw a new opportunity to make money. By “rationalizing” the production, distribution, and consumption (especially via corporate advertising) of electronic dance music for profit, the original subcultural, even countercultural, values of PLUR (peace, love, unity, respect), solidarity, and authenticity were undermined. These changes resulted in the group being transformed into what Horkheimer and Adorno ([1944] 1972) called a culture industry. Electronic dance music is today dominated by large-scale entertainment corporations who employ a formulaic marketing strategy in the production of EDM events for a mass audience

Competencies and Experiences Needed by Pre–service Agricultural Educators to Teach Globalized Curricula: A Modified Delphi Study

The 21st century graduate must be able to interact with people from all over the world and must also be knowledgeable about the world (Longview Foundation, 2008). In order to produce graduates that are globally competent, The National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE, 1982) has mandated that multi–cultural education be incorporated as part of the teacher–preparation curricula. The purpose of this study was to identify competencies and experiences needed by agricultural pre–service teachers in order to teach globalized curricula. A modified Delphi method was used and the panel consisted of 13 (n = 13) experts in the field of agricultural teacher education with additional experience in international agricultural education or extension. Twenty competencies and two experiences were identified for pre–service agricultural educators to teach globalized curricula at the high school level

Simulation-assisted control in building energy management systems

Technological advances in real-time data collection, data transfer and ever-increasing computational power are bringing simulation-assisted control and on-line fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) closer to reality than was imagined when building energy management systems (BEMSs) were introduced in the 1970s. This paper describes the development and testing of a prototype simulation-assisted controller, in which a detailed simulation program is embedded in real-time control decision making. Results from an experiment in a full-scale environmental test facility demonstrate the feasibility of predictive control using a physically-based thermal simulation program

Competencies and Experiences Needed by Pre–service Agricultural Educators to Teach Globalized Curricula: A Modified Delphi Study

The 21st century graduate must be able to interact with people from all over the world and must also be knowledgeable about the world (Longview Foundation, 2008). In order to produce graduates that are globally competent, The National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE, 1982) has mandated that multi–cultural education be incorporated as part of the teacher–preparation curricula. The purpose of this study was to identify competencies and experiences needed by agricultural pre–service teachers in order to teach globalized curricula. A modified Delphi method was used and the panel consisted of 13 (n = 13) experts in the field of agricultural teacher education with additional experience in international agricultural education or extension. Twenty competencies and two experiences were identified for pre–service agricultural educators to teach globalized curricula at the high school level

Are you a Werewolf? : Teaching Symbolic Interaction Theory Through Game Play

Preprint; manuscript ID TS-20-0009.R1In this paper, we report on the implementation of using the game Werewolf as a student-centered applied-learning activity to teach symbolic interaction theory and concepts. Engaging with symbolic interaction theory can be a powerful experience for students due to its potential to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions and analyze students’ everyday life experiences. However, some students may have difficulty grasping the specific details and overall significance underlying the perspective. Moreover, research has shown that undergraduate students often have significant levels of anxiety when confronted with In this paper, we report on the sociological theory at both introductory and upper division theory courses. We aim to address recommendations to incorporate more active learning approaches to social theory by outlining an applied-learning activity based on the role-playing game Werewolf. In the paper, we review Werewolf providing step-by-step guide on how to implement the activity in the classroom, followed by summarizing findings from student assessments and classroom evaluations

Inhibitors of Mammalian Aquaporin Water Channels

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that are essential to life, being expressed in all kingdoms. In humans, there are 13 AQPs, at least one of which is found in every organ system. The structural biology of the AQP family is well-established and many functions for AQPs have been reported in health and disease. AQP expression is linked to numerous pathologies including tumor metastasis, fluid dysregulation, and traumatic injury. The targeted modulation of AQPs therefore presents an opportunity to develop novel treatments for diverse conditions. Various techniques such as video microscopy, light scattering and fluorescence quenching have been used to test putative AQP inhibitors in both AQP-expressing mammalian cells and heterologous expression systems. The inherent variability within these methods has caused discrepancy and many molecules that are inhibitory in one experimental system (such as tetraethylammonium, acetazolamide, and anti-epileptic drugs) have no activity in others. Some heavy metal ions (that would not be suitable for therapeutic use) and the compound, TGN-020, have been shown to inhibit some AQPs. Clinical trials for neuromyelitis optica treatments using anti-AQP4 IgG are in progress. However, these antibodies have no effect on water transport. More research to standardize high-throughput assays is required to identify AQP modulators for which there is an urgent and unmet clinical need