Perceptions and Responses of Residents to the Nuisance Black Fly Simulium jenningsi (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Mid-Atlantic United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1872-1881
Author(s):  
Rebecca C Wilson-Ounekeo ◽  
William O Lamp

Abstract Current management practices of nuisance black flies are conducted on an area-wide level and rely on the support of the public to implement programs. In Maryland, a vocal group of residents campaigned their representatives to begin a management program for the black fly Simulium jenningsi Malloch. To determine how residents in Maryland and its surrounding states perceived the severity of black fly nuisance, we deployed surveys online and in-person on the ways their outdoor activities were impacted and the preventive methods used to mitigate nuisance. Online respondents, those with children, and those who had lived in the region for a shorter amount of time were more likely to report black flies as ‘extremely annoying’. Quality-of-life concerns stemming from black fly swarms were primarily related to avoiding outdoor exercise and recreation. The majority of respondents used at least one method of personal protection against black fly annoyance, but satisfaction with any method was low. Methods used by respondents included the removal of standing water and rotting vegetation from their properties, indicating a lack of knowledge about black fly breeding habitats. The results contextualized the needs of residents in future management and topics for outreach efforts to address misconceptions about black fly biology. This study offers an example of the application of social science methodology in understanding the needs of stakeholders in area-wide pest management.

Author(s):  
Carlos Eduardo Araya-Leandro ◽  
Maria del Carmen Caba-Pérez ◽  
Antonio Manuel López-Hernández

With the purpose of increasing the quality of public financial information, improving decision-making, transparency and accountability processes, the countries of the Central American region have made substantial efforts to improve their governmental accounting systems. For this reason, most countries have chosen to implement the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) issued by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). This process has been enhanced by the impulse of international financial organizations that aim to these countries advancing their government financial management practices. In this context, the objective of this research is to define the IPSAS implementation processes in the countries of Central America as well as to analyze the main elements of the environment that are in favor or against this process, as indicated by Professor Lüder's Contingency Model.


Author(s):  
Shaumik Pal ◽  
P. S. Sriraj ◽  
Libby Ogard ◽  
Sue McNeil

The focus of the transportation industry, in both the public and private sectors, has slowly been changing from construction and expansion to that of preservation, as a result of various factors. Private-sector industries have made strides in asset management that could be beneficial to the public sector. Private-sector asset management principles and concepts that would form an integral part of any asset management program employed by state transportation agencies and that are transferable to the public sector, especially state departments of transportation, are identified. An overview of best practices in asset management in the private sector is presented. Thus, lessons learned are identified based on a synthesis of case studies. The analysis has been done by carefully examining asset management practices of seven near-transportation private-sector companies. Included are case studies from two railroads, two airlines, two energy companies, and one railcar leasing company. The case studies highlight the need for communication, tools, and education as well as an information technology foundation from which asset management can be practiced effectively.


Author(s):  
Marlene Kunst

Abstract. Comments sections under news articles have become popular spaces for audience members to oppose the mainstream media’s perspective on political issues by expressing alternative views. This kind of challenge to mainstream discourses is a necessary element of proper deliberation. However, due to heuristic information processing and the public concern about disinformation online, readers of comments sections may be inherently skeptical about user comments that counter the views of mainstream media. Consequently, commenters with alternative views may participate in discussions from a position of disadvantage because their contributions are scrutinized particularly critically. Nevertheless, this effect has hitherto not been empirically established. To address this gap, a multifactorial, between-subjects experimental study ( N = 166) was conducted that investigated how participants assess the credibility and argument quality of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. The findings revealed that media-dissonant user comments are, indeed, disadvantaged in online discussions, as they are assessed as less credible and more poorly argued than media-congruent user comments. Moreover, the findings showed that the higher the participants’ level of media trust, the worse the assessment of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. Normative implications and avenues for future research are discussed.


2012 ◽  
pp. 24-47
Author(s):  
V. Gimpelson ◽  
G. Monusova

Using different cross-country data sets and simple econometric techniques we study public attitudes towards the police. More positive attitudes are more likely to emerge in the countries that have better functioning democratic institutions, less prone to corruption but enjoy more transparent and accountable police activity. This has a stronger impact on the public opinion (trust and attitudes) than objective crime rates or density of policemen. Citizens tend to trust more in those (policemen) with whom they share common values and can have some control over. The latter is a function of democracy. In authoritarian countries — “police states” — this tendency may not work directly. When we move from semi-authoritarian countries to openly authoritarian ones the trust in the police measured by surveys can also rise. As a result, the trust appears to be U-shaped along the quality of government axis. This phenomenon can be explained with two simple facts. First, publicly spread information concerning police activity in authoritarian countries is strongly controlled; second, the police itself is better controlled by authoritarian regimes which are afraid of dangerous (for them) erosion of this institution.


CCIT Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-157
Author(s):  
Dewi Immaniar Desrianti ◽  
Giandari Maulani ◽  
Dana Krisdiana

The tight competition between schools in the era of globalization today, requires that the school Ivory Serpong Sower SDK to do the marketing strategy as attractive as possible, in order to enhance the new prospective learner interests as well as improve the quality of and professionalism in the management of the school. It is a promotional effort is used to market products or services to the public, so that they are more familiar with or know the product or service being marketed. Current media information and promotions that use the SDK Sower Ivory Serpong still be printed in the form of banners, brochures and more, so there are still many who have not yet learned about SDK Sower Gading Serpong. The purpose of this research is to inform and promote school SDK Sower Ivory Serpong. Based on a needs analysis is required of media promotion in the form of a video profile, to support information and promotion more attractive and effective by using the software Adobe Premier and Adobe Photoshop. Research methods used namely collecting data through observation, interviews and literature studies, Media Production and concept i.e. preproduction, production and postproduction. Through the design of Video media Profile of this SDK Sower Ivory Serpong can better known to many people and attracting parents to enroll his son in schools � SDK Sower Ivory Serpong


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 618-632
Author(s):  
A.S. Panchenko

Subject. The article addresses the public health in the Russian Federation and Israel. Objectives. The focus is on researching the state of public health in Russia and Israel, using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project methodology, identifying problem areas and searching for possible ways to improve the quality of health of the Russian population based on the experience of Israel. Methods. The study draws on the ideology of the GBD project, which is based on the Disability-Adjusted Life-Year (DALY) metric. Results. The paper reveals the main causes of DALY losses and important risk factors for cancer for Russia and Israel. The findings show that the total DALY losses for Russia exceed Israeli values. The same is true for cancer diseases. Conclusions. Activities in Israel aimed at improving the quality of public health, the effectiveness of which has been proven, can serve as practical recommendations for Russia. The method of analysis, using the ideology of the GBD project, can be used as a tool for quantitative and comparative assessment of the public health.


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