4,157 research outputs found
Americans’ perceptions of and likely responses to the threat of avian influenza in the U.S. food supply
No full textHighly pathogenic avian influenza has affected poultry consumption in all affected countries as well as some countries that have not been affected. If, as some predict, there is an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry in the U.S., there will likely be serious repercussions on the entire food system.To predict what might happen if avian influenza emerged in poultry or wild birds in the U.S. researchers at the Food Policy Institute at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, conducted a national survey of public knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors related to the threat of avian influenza in the food supply.MethodologyA total of 1200 telephone interviews, lasting an average of 22 minutes, were completed between May 3, and June 5, 2006.2 The survey sample was selected through a random digit dial list. The sample selection procedures ensure that every household within the United States has an equal chance to be included in the survey. Each selected number was called a maximum of 15 times with calls distributed across days and times to try to reach a member of the household. The data was weighted using appropriate U.S. census weights for gender, age, race, ethnicity, and education. The cooperation rate was 60%. This paper summarizes the findings of the survey.Rutgers Food Policy Institute (FPI) Research Report RR-1106-01
Niebla di Unamuno con aggiunta leopardiana: il parlare muto di un cane e il soffio lontano di un gallo nel ventre della città
No full textIn Niebla by Unamuno, the dandy of the modernist city, among quotations of other people's texts, impossible dialogues with the author of his own story and suspension of all certainty, gets lost in the labyrinth of the streets starting to live and dying like a paradoxical work of art.In Niebla di Unamuno il dandy della città modernista, tra citazioni di testi altrui, dialoghi impossibili con l’autore della propria vicenda e sospensione di ogni certezza, si perde nel labirinto delle strade iniziando a vivere morendo come un’opera d’arte paradossale
Multi-site delamination detection and quantification in composites through guided wave based global-local sensing
No full textAdvanced composite materials are contributing to a revolution in aerospace applications. Rapid inspection techniques for detecting and quantifying damage in large composites are critical for ensuring operability and safety of composite structures. Moreover, in the development and manufacturing of next-generation composite materials, rapid inspection techniques are imperative for evaluating and certifying the materials.
This paper presents a guided wave based global-local sensing method for rapid detection and quantification of delamination damage in large composite panels. The global-local approach uses a hybrid system consisting of a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) for generating guided waves and a non-contact scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) for acquiring guided wave data. The global-local inspection is performed in two steps. First, a phased array configured of a small number of SLDV scan points (for example 10×10 points in a rectangular grid array) performs inspection over the entire plate to detect and locate damage (Figure 1a). Local areas are identified as potential damage regions for the second step. Then high density wavefield measurements are taken over the target damage areas and wavefield analysis is performed to quantitatively evaluate the damage (Figure 1b). For the proof of concept, the global-local approach is demonstrated on a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite plate with two sites of impact-induced delamination damage. In the first step, the locations of two delamination sites are detected by the phased array method. In the second step, the delamination size and shape are evaluated through the wavefield analysis. The detected delamination location, size and shape agree well with those of ultrasonic C-scan.</p
Simulation of Guided Wave Interaction with In-Plane Fiber Waviness
No full textReducing the timeline for certification of composite materials and enabling the expanded use of advanced composite materials for aerospace applications are two primary goals of NASA's Advanced Composites Project (ACP). A key a technical challenge area for accomplishing these goals is the development of rapid composite inspection methods with improved defect characterization capabilities. Ongoing work at NASA Langley is focused on expanding ultrasonic simulation capabilities for composite materials. Simulation tools can be used to guide the development of optimal inspection methods. Custom code based on elastodynamic finite integration technique is currently being developed and implemented to study ultrasonic wave interaction with manufacturing defects, such as in-plane fiber waviness (marcelling). This paper describes details of validation comparisons performed to enable simulation of guided wave propagation in composites containing fiber waviness. Simulation results for guided wave interaction with in-plane fiber waviness are also discussed. The results show that the wavefield is affected by the presence of waviness on both the surface containing fiber waviness, as well as the opposite surface to the location of waviness
Aerogel to simulate delamination and porosity defects in carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composites
No full textFood Recalls and the American Public: Improving Communications
No full textThis paper provides guidance for government and industry groups who communicate about food recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks. While the overall safety of the American food supply is good, several recent high profile outbreaks have resulted in increased attention on the food system, and the American public has the sense that food recalls are occurring more frequently. With additional improvements in outbreak surveillance and the technical ability to identify outbreak strains of pathogens, it is likely that there will be more warnings, advisories, and recalls in the future. As a result, providing clear, motivating, and accurate communication about food recalls to the public will be more essential than ever. Wherever possible, the recommendations provided here are based on empirical data, most of it collected by the Rutgers Food Policy Institute (FPI). In addition, the recommendations provided fit within a framework rooted in the psychology of health behaviors and behavior change. Simply telling people about a food recall is often not enough to motivate them to look for and discard recalled products. Instead, getting people to take action requires that they are aware of the recall, believe it applies to them, believe that the consequences are serious enough to warrant action, can identify the affected products, and believe that discarding (or returning) the product is both necessary and sufficient to resolve the problem. The framework used here also recognizes that getting people motivated to take action is only the first responsibility of food recall communications, because once the problem that led to the recall has been properly solved, consumers must also receive the message that the products are safe again to eat. This paper presents ways to improve awareness, increase relevance, convey consequences, accentuate identifying information, compel appropriate actions and reestablish consumer confidence, and each is discussed at length. Each recommendation on its own is a necessary but not sufficient component of successful food recall communications. By providing the guidance in this report, we hope to help communicators maximize the number of people who get their messages about food recalls, as well as increase the likelihood that the public will take appropriate precautionary behaviors and perform them successfully, without losing confidence in the food supply.FPI Publication number RR-0310-02
278 - Cara Elizabeth Steger
No full textIncludes bibliographical references.My dissertation seeks to advance our understanding of collaborative governance to improve the management of complex social-ecological systems. Modeling is increasingly used to facilitate collaborative environmental governance, yet little research has been done to measure the impacts of this process on local ecological knowledge, cultural norms, and cultural values. My research investigates the cultural and cognitive changes that occur when participants engage with a scientific modeling process. This case study on technologically-mediated cultural change has potential to inform the study and implementation of collaborative methods for advancing adaptive and resilient social-ecological systems worldwide.Office of International Programs - Global Impact: Research
Avian Influenza in Poultry: American Knowledge, Perceptions, and Responses
No full textComputer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 non-institutionalized American adults (aged 18 and over) between May 3, 2006 and June 5, 2006. The results indicated:
• Avian influenza is on the national agenda
- Most Americans (93%) indicate they have heard of avian influenza.
- Nearly three-quarters of Americans say they have discussed avian influenza with someone else.
• Still, most Americans don’t know much about avian influenza
- More than half of Americans say they know ‘little’ or ‘nothing’ about avian influenza.
- On average, Americans correctly answer fewer than 60% of a series of 22 objective knowledge
questions.
• Uncertainty regarding food-related transmission
- The majority of Americans are aware that animal to human transmission of the avian influenza virus
can occur from contact with live infected birds or feces from infected birds.
- About one-third are unsure if transmission is possible from eating infected meat or eggs.
• Conflicting beliefs about preventing infection
- More than two-thirds of Americans believe the virus is present in uncooked meat of infected
chickens.
- Yet, less than half believe that proper cooking chicken kills the avian influenza virus.
- Few Americans believe infected live birds are easily recognizable; yet, many believe infected raw
meat is readily identifiable.
• Americans perceive the general risks posed by avian influenza to be low
- Americans aren’t very worried about illness with avian influenza.
- Americans report their risk of infection with avian influenza in the next year to be relatively low and
other Americans’ risk of infection to be higher, but still moderate.
• Yet, Americans see avian influenza in chicken as more risky
- The majority of Americans report greater perceived risk specifically associated with the consequences of eating chicken infected with avian influenza.
• Most Americans currently view chicken as safe and continue to eat it
- More than nine-in-ten Americans say they currently eat chicken.
- Americans report that chicken products in the U.S. are currently safe to eat.
• The proximity of avian influenza cases affects Americans likelihood of eating chicken
- The nearer avian influenza comes to the U.S., the less likely Americans are to eat chicken.
- Avian influenza does not necessarily have to emerge in the U.S. to affect poultry consumption.
• Many Americans are unlikely to eat chicken if the avian influenza virus is found inside the
U.S.
- Americans say they are relatively unlikely to eat chicken in the U.S. if avian influenza is found in wild
birds in the U.S. or if someone became sick with avian influenza from eating chicken in the U.S.
- Americans report being least likely to eat chicken in the U.S. if avian influenza was found in chickens
on farms in the U.S. and 39% report that they would definitely not eat chicken.
- Americans report reluctance to eat any chicken products if U.S. chickens are infected.
• Even with a strong, specific assurance of safety, many Americans report that they would be
unlikely to eat chicken again if the avian influenza virus is found inside the U.S.
- One-fifth (20%) say they would never eat chicken again.
- Those participants who said they would eat chicken again, report that it would take an average of 144 days for them to start eating it again (SD=337.67; Mdn=42).Suggested Citation:
Condry, S. C., Hallman, W. K., Vata, M., & Cuite, C. L. (2007). Avian influenza in poultry: Americans’
knowledge, perceptions, and responses. (Publication number RR-0507-014). New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Food Policy Institute
Consumer responses to food recalls: 2008 national survey report
No full textThis report presents the data from a national telephone survey on American’s awareness and knowledge of food recalls, as well as their attitudes and behavioral responses to food recalls. A random sample of American adults in all 50 states was interviewed in August and September of 2008. The following are among the key findings of the study: Most Americans view food recalls as important and as saving lives. Most report paying attention to recalls and telling others about them. Many believe that recalls are relevant to others and not to themselves. While most Americans believe that the number of food recalls is growing, they have a poor grasp of the actual number of recalls that occurred in the year prior to the survey. Misconceptions about the food recall process and the role of government in it are widespread. Overall, only about six-in-ten Americans report having ever looked for recalled food in their homes; and far fewer (10%) say they have ever found a recalled food product. More than one quarter of Americans say they have discarded a food product after hearing about a food recall. More than one-in-ten Americans report having eaten a food they thought had been recalled. Nearly three quarters of Americans say they would want to receive personalized information about recalls on their receipt at the grocery store, and more than six-in-ten said they would want to receive such information through a letter or an email. Nearly four-in-ten Americans say they would be interested in signing up for email alerts from the government regarding food recalls, a service that is already available but used by only 6%. Consumers appear to highly value information that allows them to judge the potential likelihood and severity of consequences related to a food recall to determine whether it is in their interests to pay attention to the recall or to take actions in response. To be effective, food recalls must generate sufficient attention and motivation among consumers that they take appropriate protective actions. The results of this national survey suggest that for many Americans, this simply has not happened. Most Americans view recalls as important, but not particularly relevant to themselves. As a result, despite considerable awareness of recent recalls, few say they have looked for recalled products, and many appear to maintain an illusion of invulnerability.FPI Publication number RR-0109-01
Public Perceptions of Genetically Modified Foods: A National Study of American Knowledge and Opinion
No full textThis report presents the results from the second phase of a longitudinal study of Americans’ knowledge and feelings about agricultural biotechnology and how those perceptions and attitudes have changed over time. Two independent national probability samples of 1,200 adults were interviewed by phone in the spring of 2001 and 2003. While this report focuses on the findings from 2003, longitudinal comparisons are presented where appropriate. The report begins with an investigation of Americans’ awareness of the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in the foods they encounter everyday. Next, the report describes Americans’ actual and perceived knowledge of science, biotechnology and food production. It then examines American opinions about GM foods in general, along with their opinions on a variety of existing and potential GM food products with direct or indirect consumer benefits. The report discusses the relationship between opinions of GM food and a variety of factors, including demographics, knowledge of biotechnology, purchasing behaviors and styles of food selection. Finally, it describes Americans’ thoughts on GM food labeling.Suggested Citation:
Hallman, W. K., Hebden, W. C., Aquino, H.L., Cuite, C.L. and Lang, J.T. 2003. Public Perceptions of Genetically Modified Foods: A National Study of American Knowledge and Opinion. (Publication number RR-1003-004). New Brunswick, New Jersey; Food Policy Institute, Cook College, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey
- …
