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Developing effective communication strategies to inform the public about genetic engineering applications in food production is critical for the successful commercialization and future development of the technology. However, few existing studies in the United States have examined how communication materials affect public understanding of new technologies. Our survey study examined the effect of two information formats developed according to public issue education principles on the public understanding of, interest in and attitude towards genetically engineered salmon. In addition, we examined male/female differences in attitude. Our results indicated that participants who read the "consequence" information learned more, expressed more interest, and indicated higher level of actual confidence in judgment than those who read the "perspective" information. Women were less approving of genetically engineered salmon than men were both before and after reading the information. Reading information led to a positive change in attitude although the effect size was not different between sexes. The male/female difference was likely due to women's higher level of concern about effects on humans and greater trust of environmental groups compared to men's. Suggestions for designing an effective print communication about a specific genetic engineering application are presented.

The crystallization kinetics and melting behavior of nylon 10,10 in neat nylon 10,10 and in nylon 10,10 -montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were systematically investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallization kinetics results show that the addition of MMT facilitated the crystallization of nylon 10,10 as a heterophase nucleating agent; however, when the content of MMT was high, the physical hindrance of MMT layers to the motion of nylon 10,10 chains retarded the crystallization of nylon 10,10, which was also confirmed by polarized optical microscopy. However, both nylon 10,10 and nylon 10,10 -MMT nanocomposites exhibited multiple melting be-havior under isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization conditions. The temperature of the lower melting peak (peak I) was independent of MMT content and almost remained constant; however, the temperature of the highest melting peak (peak II) decreased with increasing MMT content due to the physical hindrance of MMT layers to the motion of nylon 10,10 chains.

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American consumers remain uninformed about genetically engineered (GE) foods, raising the prospect of their rejection based on outrage rather than risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering introduction of GE salmon into the food supply, an animal application likely to raise consumer concerns. As the first step in designing balanced information to help consumers reach informed opinions about GE salmon, we held eleven focus group discussions to compare the effect of limited (six groups) and detailed (five groups) information on the participants’ formulated consequences of this GE application. The results suggested that an effective communication piece about a specific GE application should contain basic and specific, including process- and product-related, information to help the recipient formulate consequences, and hence, opinions. It should also incorporate multiple viewpoints on certain and uncertain consequences to increase perceptions of source trustworthiness and help consumers reach informed opinions.