Measuring the effectiveness of educational instruments in facilitating environmentally responsible behaviour in agriculture : the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Program

Before And After ◽

Farm Program ◽

This research evaluates the effectiveness of Ontario's voluntary Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program's educational instruments by applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour and measuring environmental awareness. Despite being billed as an educational and environmental awareness program, the educational elements of the EFP program have not previously been evaluated in relation to their ability to foster environmental behaviours. A survey was conducted before and after the EFP workshops to measure any change in farmers' environmental awareness or intentions to implement beneficial management practices. Findings suggest an overall increase in participants' behavioural intentions and awareness, though there are opportunities to strengthen the underlying constructs of these measures to help ensure these positive outcomes are sustained beyond workshop participation. This research identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the EFP program's educational instruments and provides insight into the psychological constructs influencing farmers' participation in the program and their intentions to implement conservation measures.

Measuring the effectiveness of educational instruments in facilitating environmentally responsible behaviour in agriculture : the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Program

10.32920/ryerson.14645496 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hayley Vernon

Keyword(s):

Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽

Management Practices ◽

Environmental Awareness ◽

Positive Outcomes ◽

Psychological Constructs ◽

Beneficial Management Practices ◽

Before And After ◽

Farm Program ◽

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus before and after COVID-19 Lockdown: How the Perception of Disease Changes through the Lenses of Narrative Medicine

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9060726 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 726

Author(s):

Fulvia Ceccarelli ◽

Venusia Covelli ◽

Giulio Olivieri ◽

Francesco Natalucci ◽

Fabrizio Conti

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Narrative Medicine ◽

Good Control ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Point Of View ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Before And After ◽

Text Content ◽

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributes to the burden of living with different diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We described, from a narrative point of view, the experiences and perspectives of Italian SLE adults during the COVID-19 emergency, by distinguishing the illness experience before and after the lockdown. Methods: Fifteen patients were invited to participate. Illness narratives were collected between 22 and 29 March 2020 using a written modality to capture patients’ perspectives before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. We performed a two-fold analysis of collected data by distinguishing three narrative types and a qualitative analysis of content to identify the relevant themes and sub-themes reported. Results: Eight narratives included in the final analysis (mean length 436.9 words) have been written by eight females (mean age 43.3 ± 9.9 years, mean disease duration 13.1 ± 7.4 years). Six patients provided a quest narrative, one a chaos and the remaining one a restitution narrative. By text content analysis, we identified specific themes, temporally distinct before and after the lockdown. Before COVID-19, all the patients referred to a good control of disease, however the unexpected arrival of the COVID-19 emergency broke a balance, and patients perceived the loss of health status control, with anxiety and stress. Conclusions: We provided unique insight into the experiences of people with SLE at the time of COVID-19, underlining the perspective of patients in relation to the pandemic.

The European Green Capital Award—Is It a Dream or Reality for Belgrade (Serbia)?

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116182 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6182

Author(s):

Marijana Pantić ◽

Saša Milijić

Keyword(s):

Urban Transformation ◽

The Other ◽

Transmission Of Knowledge ◽

Current State ◽

Transitional Countries ◽

Great Hope ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

The City ◽

An agreement of cooperation and transmission of knowledge regarding the nomination for the European Green Capital Award (EGCA) was signed between the mayors of Belgrade and Ljubljana (EGCA 2016 winner) in September 2018. The candidacy of Belgrade was finally realized in October 2019. Great hope was placed in this endeavour because internationally recognized awards, such as the EGCA, represent enormous capital for both the city and the state. The EGCA requires serious preparation and significant fulfilment of preconditions. Many economically strong and environmentally responsible cities competed for the award, but did not win. On the other hand, the capital of Serbia does not appear to be an obvious winning candidate, especially as it is differentiated from the previous winners by being a non-EU city and by the fact that it is still undergoing an intense urban transformation, characteristic of transitional countries. Therefore, the main aim of this article is to present a review of the current state of Belgrade’s environmental qualities and its comparison with the EGCA criteria and with Grenoble as one of the winning competitors. The article gives a full overview of the EGCA requirements with certain details on required indicators, gives relevant insight into the procedure, which could be of use for any future candidacy, and discusses potential benefits for winners, losers and repeat candidacies.

Discoloration of Historical Plastic Objects: New Insight into the Degradation of β-Naphthol Pigment Lakes

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13142278 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 2278

Author(s):

Anna Micheluz ◽

Eva Mariasole Angelin ◽

João Almeida Lopes ◽

Maria João Melo ◽

Marisa Pamplona

Keyword(s):

Light Exposure ◽

Molecular Structures ◽

Conservation Science ◽

Organic Pigment ◽

Organic Pigments ◽

Before And After ◽

The Individual ◽

Determining Factor ◽

Insight Into ◽

Historical Samples

Light is a determining factor in the discoloration of plastics, and photodegradation processes can affect the molecular structures of both the polymer and colorants. Limited studies focused on the discoloration of heritage plastics in conservation science. This work investigated the discoloration of red historical polyethylene (PE) objects colored with PR 48:2 and PR 53:1. High-density and low-density PE reference polymers, neat pigment powders, and historical samples were assessed before and after accelerated photoaging. The applied methodology provided insight into the individual light-susceptibility of polyethylenes, organic pigment lakes, and their combined effect in the photoaging of historical plastic formulations. After light exposure, both PE references and historical samples yellowed, PR53:1 faded, and PR 48:2 darkened; however, both organic pigments faded severely in the historical samples. This highlights the role played by the plastic binder likely facilitating the pigment photofading. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques—EGA-MS, PY-GC/MS, and TD-GC/MS—were successfully employed for characterizing the plastic formulations and degradation. The identification of phthalic compounds in both aged β-naphthol powders opens new venues for studies on their degradation. This work’s approach and analytical methods in studying the discoloration of historical plastics are novel, proving their efficacy, reliability, and potentiality.

11th GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES - Global Conference on Business and Social Sciences Proceeding ◽

Determinants of University Students' Waste Mobile Phones Recycling Intention

10.35609/gcbssproceeding.2021.12(84) ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 84-84

Author(s):

Ho Sew Tiep ◽

Goh Mei Ling ◽

Radziah Shaikh Abdullah ◽

Teo Kim Mui

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Management Practices ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Efficient System ◽

The Past ◽

Tremendous Amount ◽

Waste Management Practices ◽

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, mobile phones has become the utmost preference device for most Malaysian to stay connected. Over the past decades, mobile phone users in this country has been increasing steadily. Percentage of individuals in Malaysia using mobile phones increased from 94.2% in 2013 to 97.5% in 2015 (DOS, 2016). According to the hand phone users survey carried out by MCMC (2017) , there were 42.3 million mobile phone subscriptions with a penetration rate of 131.2% to a population of 32.3 million at the end of 2017. In a study on university students of Malaysia, Ho et al. (2018) revealed that a substantial amount of them (18.83%) actually do not know what to do with the waste mobile phones. This reflects the low awareness amongst university students and the lack of formal management system in Malaysia. Moreover, the findings show the rate of replacements of even functioning phones is high and a significant high stockpile of the waste mobile phones, which in turn increase the generation of e-waste eventually. Tremendous amount of waste mobile phones are expected to be generated in Malaysia. Malaysia is now facing a challenge on how to deal with the ever growing generation of waste mobile phones from users. An insight into their e-waste management practices and key predictors in relation to waste mobile phones recycling intention are therefore essential. This would help to lay the foundation for developing a suitable, workable, effective and efficient system of collecting e-wastes. This study aims to probe into university students' behavioural intentions to recycle waste mobile phones. In the meanwhile, it is expected to derive the policy implications for the future expansion and enhancement of mobile phones recycling response rate. Keywords: Determinants, Mobile Phones, Recycling, Intention, University Students

Short-term effects of timber harvest and forest edges on ground-layer mosses and liverworts

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b05-036 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 83 (6) ◽

pp. 610-620 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Cara R Nelson ◽

Charles B Halpern

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Edge Effects ◽

Management Practices ◽

Timber Harvest ◽

Ground Layer ◽

Limited Information ◽

Short Term ◽

Before And After ◽

Logging Effects ◽

Structural Retention

Limited information exists on the effects of forest management practices on bryophytes, despite their importance to forest ecosystems. We examined short-term responses of ground-layer bryophytes to logging disturbance and creation of edges in mature Pseudotsuga forests of western Washington (USA). The abundance and richness of species were measured in four 1-ha forest aggregates (patches of intact forest) and in surrounding logged areas before and after structural retention harvests. One year after treatment, species richness, total cover, and frequency of most moss and liverwort taxa declined within harvest areas. Within forest aggregates, mosses did not show significant edge effects; however, richness and abundance of liverworts declined with proximity to the aggregate edge. Our results suggest that, over short time frames, 1-ha-sized aggregates are sufficient to maintain most common mosses through structural retention harvests but are not large enough to prevent declines or losses of liverworts. Thus, current standards for structural retention, which allow for aggregates as small as 0.2 ha, may be inadequate to retain the diversity and abundance of species found in mature, undisturbed forests.Key words: bryophyte, edge effects, forest borders, forest management, logging effects, structural retention harvest.

Drawing Light(ning) from the Clouds of Social Aggression

Qualitative Communication Research ◽

10.1525/qcr.2012.1.3.347 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 347-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Erin K. Willer

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Social Aggression ◽

Visual Narrative ◽

Positive Outcomes ◽

Master Narrative ◽

Middle School Girls ◽

Making Sense ◽

School Girls ◽

Negative Feelings ◽

The master narrative about social aggression is that it is devastating for girls. Absent from the narrative, however, are girls' voices and a consideration of the positive benefits that targets might incur. Girls' stories of social aggression can be hard to communicate, as adolescents experience challenges making sense of emotionally difficult events. Using Burke's dramaturgical perspective and visual narrative metaphor method, the present study provided girls with a means of purification or a way of identifying both the devastating and redeeming nature of social aggression, including a sequential move from pollution to redemption. Forty-two middle school girls drew and orally described metaphors representing their negative feelings and positive outcomes associated with an experience of social aggression. The analysis revealed four categories of pollution metaphors and four categories of redemption metaphors, as well as five discourse structures that provided insight into how participants constructed their pollution and redemption narratives.

Training Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Interview Skills to Adolescents

Communication Disorders Quarterly ◽

10.1177/1525740116678095 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 206-218

Author(s):

Abbie Olszewski ◽

Anna Panorska ◽

Sandra Laing Gillam

Keyword(s):

Nonverbal Communication ◽

Goal Setting ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Performance Feedback ◽

Study Skills ◽

Positive Outcomes ◽

Workforce Readiness ◽

Program Language ◽

Before And After ◽

Ideal Student

Adolescents’ verbal and nonverbal communication skills were compared before and after training in a workforce readiness training program, Language for Scholars (LFS), and a study skills program, Ideal Student Workshop (ISW). A cross-over design was used, ensuring that 44 adolescents received both programs and acted as their own control. The LFS program incorporated aspects of modeling, operationalized behaviors, performance, feedback, and self-regulatory goal setting. The active comparison ISW program taught study skill strategies. Adolescents participated in three interviews before (Pretest) and after both programs (Posttest 1, Posttest 2). Findings revealed that both adolescents’ verbal and nonverbal communication skills improved significantly immediately after completion of the LFS program only at Posttest 1 and Posttest 2. However, only nonverbal communication skills improved at Posttest 1 when comparing results between LFS and ISW. Findings suggest that both programs yielded some positive outcomes for adolescents.

Urban and rural children as environmental advocates : the impact of location on environmentally responsible behaviour

10.32920/ryerson.14654415.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sylvie Suzanne Marie Godin

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Natural Environment ◽

Environmental Awareness ◽

Rural Children ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Environmental Advocacy ◽

Environmental Behaviour ◽

Responsible Behaviour ◽

The Impact

This research paper is a qualitative study of how urban and rural children (6-8 years) experience the natural environment. The literature exploring how place of residence can influence environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour among children has been contradictory. This study attempted to explore this question in order to establish any differences between the two sample groups. Semi-structured interviews and drawing analyses were used to examine the children's view of the natural environment and their knowledge of environmentally responsible behaviours. The results indicate that the urban children were more knowledgeable of environmentally responsible behaviours and displayed higher levels of environmental advocacy. These findings support the use of area-specific environmental teaching strategies that may serve to promote environmental awareness and advocacy among children residing in any location.

Characterization of Chicken Skin Yellowness and Exploration of Genes Involved in Skin Yellowness Deposition in Chicken

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.585089 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jingwen Wu ◽

Zetong Lin ◽

Genghua Chen ◽

Qingbin Luo ◽

Qinghua Nie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Color ◽

Skin Pigmentation ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Economic Trait ◽

Chicken Skin ◽

Before And After ◽

Skin Coloration ◽

Insight Into ◽

Selection Of

Skin color is an important economic trait in meat-type chickens. A uniform bright skin color can increase the sales value of chicken. Chickens with bright yellow skin are more popular in China, especially in the broiler market of South China. However, the skin color of chickens can vary because of differences in breeds, diet, health, and individual genetics. To obtain greater insight into the genetic factors associated with the process of skin pigmentation in chickens, we used a colorimeter and high-resolution skin photographs to measure and analyze the skin color of chickens. By analyzing 534 chickens of the same breed, age, and feed condition, we found that the yellowness values of the chickens varied within this population. A significant positive correlation was found between the cloacal skin yellowness values before and after slaughter, and the cloacal skin yellowness value of live chickens was positively correlated with the overall body skin yellowness value. Additionally, chicken skin yellowness exhibited low heritability, ranging from 0.07 to 0.27. Through RNA sequencing, 882 genes were found to be differentially expressed between the skin with the highest and lowest yellowness values. Some of these differentially expressed genes may play an important role in yellow pigment deposition in chicken skin, which included TLR2B, IYD, SMOC1, ALDH1A3, CYP11A1, FHL2, TECRL, ACACB, TYR, PMEL, and GPR143. In addition, we found that the expression and variations of the BCO2 gene, which is referred to as the yellow skin gene, cannot be used to estimate the skin yellowness value of chickens in this population. These data will help to further our understanding of chicken skin yellowness and might contribute to the selection of specific chicken strains with consistent skin coloration.