20413 research outputs found
Sort by
Development of biopolymer and essential oils-based edible coatings to enhance the shelf life of Strawberries
No full textThis study investigates the effectiveness of edible coatings in extending the shelf life of strawberries while enhancing their sensory properties too. The primary objective is to preserve the visual appeal, texture, and overall quality of strawberries during storage through the application of a bio-based edible coating. The coating formulation consisted of a ternary blend of pectin, sodium alginate, and gelatin, enriched with thyme essential oil at two concentrations (5% and 10%). Further, strawberries were immersed in the formulated coating solutions and stored under controlled conditions. The results revealed a significant extension in shelf life for coated strawberries up to 9 days compared to only 3 days for uncoated controls. The presence of thyme essential oil played a pivotal role in slowing microbial spoilage and maintaining fruit firmness and appearance. The findings suggest that the synergistic combination of biopolymers and essential oils not only enhances the sensory properties of the films but also provides a promising, natural preservation method for perishable fruits like strawberries
Exploring Perceived Value Attributes Toward Spiritual Tourism in Vietnam: A Qualitative Approach
No full textCustomer Perceived Value (CPV) has recently attracted a lot of interest in the tourism industry, both academically and empirically. To succeed in the tourist business, managers in the sector need a comprehensive understanding of how visitors’ perceptions of value dimensions connect to trip outcomes, such as overall satisfaction and behavioral intentions. This study aims to explore the tourists’ perceptions of the value of spiritual tourism services in Vietnam. A qualitative method was employed, which included nine in-depth interviews with tourism providers and representatives of spiritual sites, as well as a brief survey of 127 travellers who had already experienced spiritual tourism services. The findings revealed that tourists in this research context consider functional value, emotional value, educational value, social value, and spiritual worth (which includes both concrete and intangible components) as important value qualities. The study offers insights for both researchers and tourism service providers
Evaluating the Religious Experience of Pilgrims at Kartarpur Corridor: A Qualitative Analysis
No full textThis exploratory study analyses experiences of pilgrims from India and all over the world to Kartarpur Peace Corridor for religious tourism. The historic Kartarpur Corridor, the holiest place for the Sikh religion, in Pakistan, was opened for Sikh pilgrimage in November 2019, after 72 years since partition. The qualitative research method of cultural ethnography and netnographic research, was applied to collect secondary data by watching 78 YouTube interviews from November-2019 to March-2020, at the Kartarpur complex by private bloggers. Interview comments by pilgrims relevant to this exploratory research were selected, analysing experiences of pilgrims and spiritual tourists traveling from India and overseas to Kartarpur Gurdwara for a religious pilgrimage from November- 2019 until the border corridor closure due to Covid-19 in March-2020.
A total of 78 YouTube privately uploaded vlogs lasting from 15 to 25 minutes were watched and 29 YouTube vlogs were selected as being relevant to this research, with appropriate comments from participants answering the designed research questions. Total of 81 participants were recognised as their interviews and comments were recorded, translated, and transcribed. Findings indicate four segments of religious tourists visiting Kartarpur Corridor based on their motivations and experiences. Interrelated themes with policy implications were generated that could be used by tourism organisers and government planners. A future study is planned which will involve a visit to Kartarpur to collect qualitative and quantitative data directly from religious tourists to compare with findings of this study
Tracking Livestock Heart Rate & Location Using Long-Range Radio Networks. An immediate Solution for Farms Without Reliable WI-FI
No full textDigital Playgrounds: Irish Tweens\u27 Media Literacies in the Context of Social Media Content Creators
No full textChildren under 12 are avid social media users. Of these, tweens, children aged 9 to 12, are currently the age group most likely to engage in independent social media content consumption. One of their favourite online activities is watching content produced by social media influencers and content creators, collectively referred to here as social media creators. The popularity of social media creators has grown exponentially in recent times. Considered trusted, relatable and authentic, they produce content that resonates with audiences. Consequently, their messages often possess greater persuasive power, making them a popular choice for advertisers. Creators seamlessly blend commercial messaging within their original content, blurring the boundaries between content types. This raises a specific concern for tweens, who may lack the capabilities or media literacies to discern commercial messages hidden among their content. Media literacy encompasses the skills and knowledge required to access, create, and critically analyse various forms of media. It also includes digital literacy—within the context of digital environments, algorithmic literacy—considering algorithms’ role in media choices, and advertising literacy— a set of skills to recognise and critically evaluate advertising messages. In addition, media literacy is developed in a broader socio-cultural context, and tween media literacies are developed and mediated in the social context of family and peers. This study aimed to explore tweens’ media literacies with respect to social media creators’ content in the social context of family and peers
Agricultural Extension in Ireland: A Century of Continuity and Change
No full textIn 1901, Ireland had the largest publicly funded professional extension service – agricultural scientists helping farmers to farm better – relatively, in the world. Utilising a wide range of historical sources and contemporary data, this paper provides a snapshot of the education and work of Irish advisors and their extension activities then and now. It identifies what has changed and what has not, showing key influences on Ireland’s current advisory services. Education for advisors 100 years ago was characterised by gender segregation, with less capacity and diversity. Continuity in the work of advisors then and now is shown in a maintained focus on on-farm demonstration and the translation of scientific knowledge. Change is shown in the reduced but equal participation of women; less mobility but larger numbers of advisors; less in-person contact with farmers; more administration; and a bigger focus on facilitation, financial management, innovation brokering and contemporary issues like climate change. The foundational principles and practices of Ireland’s agricultural advisory services were grounded in working closely with farmers. These principles and practices are consistent with contemporary good practice and have maintained the relevance and strength of the services in the current Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems, notwithstanding contemporary challenges. Contemporary scholarship of agricultural extension is enriched by an historical lens which establishes and analyses the basis of successful advisory services and the features – judged as negative or positive depending on the current state-of-the-art – that have been gained or lost. The education and work of Irish advisors in the early 1900s has never been compared comprehensively with the education and work of their modern counterparts. In 1901, the Irish advisory service represented a significant experiment, and this paper assesses it and sets out what lessons can be learned
Relational Pedagogy, Student Led Seminars, and Rethinking the World ‘Otherwise’: Evidence from Focus Groups with ECCE Students in an English University
No full textThis paper critically examines findings from a qualitative study of collaborative, student-led seminars framed within relational pedagogy, with undergraduate students on an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) degree programme in England. Drawing upon focus groups and observational data, this paper argues for the importance of student-led seminars in ECCE programmes, for improved student’s motivation to learn, teamwork, collaboration skills and peer learning. Significantly, our data reveals that depth engagement in these seminars facilitated students rethinking their worlds ‘otherwise’ where they questioned their own biases and prejudices towards so-called hard to reach and marginalised groups. Utilising a relational pedagogical approach facilitated deep appreciation of the challenges regularly faced by groups who are invisibilised with relation to power, care and belonging, which emerged strongly in interviews as impacting positively upon students’ personal and professional growth. Our findings illuminate the importance of student-led seminars and relational approaches to learning and teaching for advancing students’ understanding of intersectional prejudices and the multidimensional factors that both help and hinder children’s rights. Our data illuminates that relational pedagogy enhanced students’ confidence in working with children and families whilst facilitating reflection on what it means to be an effective ECCE practitioner. Given the expansion of ECCE in HEIs in Ireland and the UK, findings on ‘what works’ with regards to practitioner training are highly relevant to educational providers and curricular specialists in this domain
The Irish Food Manufacturing Industry’s Preparedness for NIS2 Cybersecurity
No full textThe Irish Food Manufacturing Industry’s Preparedness for NIS2 Cybersecurityhttps://arrow.tudublin.ie/ecdtpos/1005/thumbnail.jp