Signs that encourage internalized recycling: Clinical validation, weak messages and “creative elaboration”

Two experiments examined clinical validation's ability to increase examination of a persuasive message and increase long-term recycling. In Experiment 1, validating (acknowledging) recycling's inconvenience decreased criticism of the persuasive message, supporting validation's ability to reduce reactance and open the reader to new ideas. Validation did not improve attitudes towards the sign's author, removing liking for the communicator as an alternate explanation for attitude change. In Experiment 2, different recycling signs were created from a 2(no validation/validation) by 2(weak/strong arguments) factorial design, and placed in university buildings. The validation weak sign increased recycling more than the validation strong sign, especially after the signs were removed. We suggest that validation induced people to scrutinize the weak message and use their existing pro-recycling attitudes to “creatively elaborate” it. Discussion emphasizes clinical validation and the Elaboration Likelihood Model as theoretical tools, as well as the potential for thought provoking signs to have long-term effects.     

Biotoxizit?tstests mit PAK Die Nodulation in der Leguminosen-Rhizobien-Symbiose als sensibler Wirkungsparameter

Im Zusammenhang mit der Umweltchemikalienprüfung und der Untersuchung und Kontrolle kontaminierter B?den besteht gro?er Bedarf an Testverfahren mit h?heren Pflanzen, die schnell, einfach und preisgünstig durchzuführen sind und bereits bestehende Testverfahren nach OECD- und BBA-Richtlinien sinnvoll erg?nzen k?nnen. Dieser Beitrag stellt einen Biotoxizit?tstest vor, der die Nodulation in der Leguminosen-Kn?llchen-Symbiose als sensiblen Wirkungsparameter für die Belastung mit polyzyklischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen (PAK) benutzt. Fremdstoff, Pflanze und Mikroorganismus werden dabei auf einer festen Matrix in Kontakt miteinander gebracht; das axenische System erlaubt die Untersuchung der Fremdstoffwirkung sowohl auf den Gesamtorganismus Pflanze, als auch auf die Interaktion von Pflanze und Mikroorganismus (Kn?llchenbildung). In Dose-Response-Versuchen zeigte sich der Wirkungsparameter Nodulation, gemessen als Anzahl Wurzelkn?llchen pro Pflanze, sensibler als andere pflanzliche Wachstumsparameter. There is great need for toxicity tests with higher plants for the investigation and monitoring of chemicals in the environment — especially for tests which are quick, easy, and inexpensive. Such tests should add to and improve current guidelines, e.g., OECD- and BBA-Guidelines. This article describes the nodulation of leguminous plants withRhizobium bacteria used in a bioassay with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Plants growing on a solid medium were exposed simultaneously to bacteria and PAH. This axenic culture system allows to observe the impact of PAH on plant growth and the interaction between plant and bacteria (nodulation). Dose-response-experiments indicated that nodulation measured as number of nodules per plant, was more sensitive to the inhibition by PAH than other plant growth parameters.     

On the function of warning coloration: a black and yellow pattern inhibits prey-attack by naive domestic chicks

Summary Young chicks were offered a choice of warningly coloured black and yellow and non-warningly coloured green (or olive) prey. Unfed chicks were given palatable painted mealworms on their first day. They directed their first peck at both colour types at the same probability; however, they ate the warningly coloured ones at a much lower rate. This is due to an inhibition of attack which becomes effective after pecking. Chicks which were a few days old showed the same behaviour. Since the control prey was in this case painted with an olive mixture containing the same colours as the warningly coloured mealworms, it can be concluded that the inhibition is caused by the black and yellow coloration. With accumulating positive experience of the chicks, the inhibition decreased. For permanent avoidance it must therefore be supplemented by unpleasant experience. Accordingly, chicks handled the unpalatable black and yellow ringed caterpillars of Tyria jacobaeae only a few times and always for a short period when offered repeatedly. The inhibition caused by the black and yellow pattern is attributed to a genetically fixed predisposition to avoid warningly coloured black and yellow prey which is the result of evolutionary adaptation.     

Minerals and the Common Fund for Commodities

This paper reviews the role of minerals in the Integrated Programme for Commodities and the objectives and problems of the Second Account of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). It focuses on the least developed countries in Africa, providing specific suggestions for R&D to improve mineral exploration techniques in rain forest and savanna regions; to reduce mine exploration costs; to design equipment suitable for mining narrow veins; to improve concentrating methods for certain ores and to optimize byproduct recovery; to reduce environmental impacts; and to use the waste products of mining. It also discusses demand oriented CFC projects and their policy implications.