Digital Commons Network^™

Characterisation Of Herbage From Temperate Organic Pastures, E. Kuusela

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is an essential part of organic dairy farming systems. Although the nutritive value of herbage and herbage availability determine the intake and nutrient supply for grazing cows, the composition of typical herbage from organic pastures has been unclear.

Water-Soluble Carbohydrate (Wsc) Concentrations In Ireland And Norway Of Lolium Perenne Differing In Wsc Genotype And Receiving Varying Rates Of N Fertiliser, P. O'Kiely, L. Nesheim, P. Conaghan, F. P. O'Mara

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cultivars bred for elevated water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration may have improved grass ensilability and nutritive value. Increasing rates of application of N fertiliser generally reduce grass WSC concentration, although it is unknown if the response is similar for normal and elevated WSC genotypes or if these factors interact with growing conditions. This experiment evaluated the effects on grass WSC concentration of varying N fertiliser application rates to perennial ryegrass cultivars of high or normal WSC genotype grown in Ireland and Norway.

Proanthocyanidins From Hedysarum, Lotus And Onobrychis Spp. Growing In Sardinia And Sicily And Their Antioxidant Activity, A. Tava, M. G. De Begedetto, D. Tedesco, G. Di Miceli, G. Piluzza

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Proanthocyanidins (PA), or condensed tannins, are a class of natural polyphenolic compounds, occurring in numerous plant species, including a number of economically significant forage legumes. These compounds are polymers of flavan-3-ols, and typically contain from 2 to 20 units. Their biological significance is still being debated and, in recent years, a great deal of attention has been focused on their role in ruminant nutrition. Evidence has indicated that PA, in a moderate concentration (0.5-5% DM), may have considerable importance in protecting dietary proteins against microbial degradation in the rumen, and in preventing bloat. The antioxidant activity (AA) is also an …

Predicting Intake From Indigestible Fibre, Kenneth J. Moore, J. R. Russell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dry matter intake (DMI) of forages is often estimated as a reciprocal function of fibre concentration: DMI = fibre intake capacity / dietary fibre concentration (Mertens, 1987). This theoretical relationship is based on the concept that consumption of forage diets is limited by fill and that fibre represents the bulk of forage diets. This model, however, does not account for differences in DMI which should occur among forages with similar fibre concentrations but differing fibre digestibility. To account for these differences, we proposed an intake model where DMI is a reciprocal function of indigestible fibre concentration: DMI = c / …

Validation Of Faecal Nirs For Monitoring The Diet Of Confined And Grazing Goats, S. Y. Landau, T. A. Glasser, L. Dvash, Avi Perevolotsky

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Goats are used for brush control and ecological management of Mediterranean grazing lands. Farmers are willing to cooperate with communities but they need an easy method to evaluate the daily intake of nutrients. A calibration of the chemical attributes of goats' diets was set-up, based on faecal near infrared (NIR) spectra (Landau et al., 2004; Table 1). The accuracy of this methodology was estimated by using the standard error of cross-validation (SECV), which represents the variability in the difference between predicted and reference values when the equation is applied sequentially to subsets of data from the calibration data set. …

Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Assess Feeding Value And Antinutritional Compounds In Legume Species, M. Odoardi, S. Colombini, G. Piluzza, M. Confalonieri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is an increasing demand for information on the quality characteristics and chemical composition of forages in order to meet the demands of dietary specifications for feeding animals. Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a tool for rapid and non-destructive analysis in agronomic and breeding programs of a number of chemical components of forages and grains. NIR spectroscopy in particular has the advantage of being able to simultaneously evaluate the samples for a number of qualitative traits of whole plants and seeds. In two experiments here presented, NIR Spectroscopy was used to predict: i) qualitative characteristics of field pea seeds and, …

Sample Preparation Method For Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy To Predict Fermentation Quality Of Maize Silage, H. S. Park, J. K. Lee, M. C. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Using NIRS directly on undried silage can increase error due to variability in sample particle size, temperature and water content (Givens et al., 1997). These problems can be overcome by grinding silages in frozen state with dry ice or liquid nitrogen, but such procedures are time-consuming and inconvenient due to cleanup required between samples and the need to thaw the sample for subsequent use. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effect of sample preparation methods on prediction of fermentation quality of maize silage, and to select an acceptable sample-preparation method for wet silage.

Nutritive Quality Of Silages By Conventional Laboratory Methods And Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, Pilar Castro, G. Flores, A. González-Arráez, J. Castro, B. Fernández-Lorenzo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Preservation of forages as silages is needed by dairy farmers in NW Spain to feed their cows during the dry (summer) and cold (winter) seasons. The objective of this work was to compare the prediction of in vivo digestibility values by conventional laboratory methods and by near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for herbage and maize silages.

A Rapid Estimation Of Nitrogen Bound To Neutral Detergent Fibre In Forages By Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, Jérôme Bindelle, G. Sinnaeve, P. Dardenne, P. Leterme, A. Buldgen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used as a rapid method for the evaluation of the chemical composition or the nutritive value of foodstuffs (Givens et al., 1997). The determination of the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) bound N (NDF-N), which is highly variable in forages (Shayo & Udén, 1999), is expensive. The purpose of this study was to test the use of NIRS in the prediction of NDF-N in various forages.

Towards Truly “Global” Near Infrared Calibrations For Protein And Neutral Detergent Fibre In Dried Ground Forages, D. Undersander, P. Berzaghi, P. Dardenne, P. Flinn, N. P. Martin, C. Paul, B. N. B. Büchmann, F. Mazeris, M. Lagerholm, I. A. Cowe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Over the past five years, Foss and DeLaval have sponsored the activities of a group of forage analysts with the aim of developing "global" Near Infrared (NIR) calibrations for parameters that are important in ruminant nutrition. The approach adopted has been based on the amalgamation of historical databases from centres worldwide and calibrations for protein and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in dried ground forages have been developed based on databases that currently comprise approximately 30,000 records. Protein and NDF, while not the most important parameters in ruminant nutrition, were chosen for the initial calibration development exercise because of the amount …

Forage Quality As Related To Mineral Concentrations In Tropical Regions, L. R. Mcdowell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Often tropical forages contain deficient or toxic concentrations of minerals for grazing livestock (McDowell, 2003). Tropical forages generally contain less of the more essential minerals than species grown in temperate regions (McDowell & Valle, 2000). Mineral elements in forages are dependent upon the interaction of a number of factors, including soil, plant species, stage of maturity, yield, pasture management and climate. The objective of this study was to determine the adequacy of minerals for ruminants in forages collected from seven tropical countries.

Mineral Status Of Some Permanent Range Plants For Grazing Sheep In Semi-Arid Areas Of The Chaharmahal And Bakhtiari Province In Iran. 2. Trace Minerals, G. H. R. Shadnoush

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The principal factors limiting the performance of grazing animals are low protein content of grasses, low energy intake due to high fibre content and mineral deficiencies or imbalances (McDowell, 1985). At least 26 mineral elements are required by at least one animal species (Church et al., 1988). These elements are generally required in small amounts. They have a great deal of importance for body tissue growth as well as for physiological functions. Mineral deficiencies and imbalances have been reported from almost all tropical regions of the world. This study was designed to measure the copper, iron, manganese and zinc …

Mineral Status Of Some Permanent Range Plants For Grazing Sheep In Semi-Arid Areas Of The Chaharmahal And Bakhtiari Province In Iran. 1. Some Macro Minerals, G. H. R. Shadnoush

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A deficiency of one or more of the essential minerals in animals can lead not only to a decrease in productivity but also to metabolic diseases in case of severe deficiencies (McDowell, 1985). In general, mineral, especially phosphorous, deficiencies and imbalances are reported from almost all tropical regions of the world (Matijovic & Durackova, 1994). This study was designed to measure the calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and chlorine contents of some plant species in the semi-arid rangeland of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Province in Iran, because little information is available at present.

Use Of Green Sulla Forage For Feeding. 2. Effects On Lamb Carcass And Meat Quality, A. Bonanno, M. L. Alicata, G. Tornambè, F. Mazza, G. Di Miceli, D. Giambalvo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Diets with 2.5% of condensed tannins (CT) from carob pulp have been showed to reduce lamb carcass weight, yield and fatness, as a consequence of lower digestibility due to strong protein-tannin bonds. Moreover the diets lightened meat colour and negatively affected meat sensory properties (Priolo et al., 2000). There is evidence that some tannin-rich legumes have weaker stability of the protein-tannin complex post-rumen (McSweeney et al., 2001). Since the CT-containing sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) demonstrated improved lamb growth performance in comparison with CT-lacking annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. subsp. wersterwoldicum) (Giambalvo et al., 2005), …

Use Of Green Sulla Forage For Feeding. 1. Effects On Lamb Growth And Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasite Infestation, D. Giambalvo, A. Di Grigoli, M. L. Alicata, B. Formoso, A. S. Frenda, P. Trapani

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Recent studies have shown that some forage legumes containing condensed tannins (CT), such as sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.), can reduce the gastrointestinal nematode burden in sheep (Niezen et al., 1998) and increase post-ruminal protein availability (Waghorn et al., 1994). This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and nutritional properties of sulla forage in relation to its CT content. Thus, the growth performance and the level of nematode infestation of lambs fed sulla were compared with those of lambs fed ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. subsp. wersterwoldicum), lacking in CT.

Exposure Levels Of Airborne Fungi, Bacteria, And Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Cotton Farms During Cotton Harvesting And Evaluations Of N95 Respirators Against These Bioaerosols, Atin Adhikari, Pratik Banerjee, Taylor Thornton, Daleniece Higgins, Caleb Adeoye, Sonam Sherpa

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The USA is the third-leading cotton-producing country worldwide and cotton farming is common in the state of Georgia. Cotton harvest can be a significant contributor to airborne microbial exposures to farmers and nearby rural communities. The use of respirators or masks is one of the viable options for reducing organic dust and bioaerosol exposures among farmers. Unfortunately, the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR Part 1910.134) does not apply to agricultural workplaces and the filtration efficiency of N95 respirators was never field-tested against airborne microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during cotton harvesting. This study addressed these two information gaps. …

Chemical And Genetic Composition Analysis Of Organic And Nonorganic Tortilla Chips, Aubrey White-Day

Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to explore the chemical and genetic differences between organic and nonorganic tortilla chips using GC-MS and PCR. Twenty chip brands were selected: 10 organic and 10 nonorganic. A survey on shopping preferences was created and distributed to compare results of public opinion to experimental data. It yielded 212 responses. All organic chip brands, and one out of ten nonorganic chip brands, tested negative for GMOs. This study concluded that there are minimal chemical differences based on Jaccard similarity indicies and stark genetic differences between organic and nonorganic tortilla chips. In comparing statistical analyses to …

Updating The Dual C And O Isotope—Gas-Exchange Model: A Concept To Understand Plant Responses To The Environment And Its Implications For Tree Rings, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Marco M. Lehmann, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Olga V. Churakova (Sidorova), Cathleen Mirande-Ney, Galina Timoveeva, Rosmarie B. Weigt, Matthias Saurer

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The combined study of carbon (C) and oxygen (O) isotopes in plant organic matter has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding plant functional responses to environmental change. The approach relies on established relationships between leaf gas exchange and isotopic fractionation to derive a series of model scenarios that can be used to infer changes in photosynthetic assimilation and stomatal conductance driven by changes in environmental parameters (CO₂, water availability, air humidity, temperature, nutrients). We review the mechanistic basis for a conceptual model, in light of recently published research, and discuss where isotopic observations do not match our …

A Nurse-Led Telehealth Program For Diabetes Foot Care: Feasibility And Usability Study, Hsiao-Hui Ju, Rashmi Momin, Stanley Cron, Jed Jularbal, Jeffery Alford, Constance Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus can lead to severe and debilitating foot complications, such as infections, ulcerations, and amputations. Despite substantial progress in diabetes care, foot disease remains a major challenge in managing this chronic condition that causes serious health complications worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and usability of a telehealth program focused on preventive diabetes foot care. A secondary aim was to descriptively measure self-reported changes in diabetes knowledge, self-care, and foot care behaviors before and after participating in the program.

METHODS: The study used a single-arm, pre-post design in 2 large family …

Interstice, Shravan Rao

Masters Theses

When I was about three years old, I distinctly remember being too small to see what was on top of the table. A couple of years later, when I could see those objects, I thought the world around me had grown smaller. In a way, it did, as I experienced, lived, captured, remembered, and shared the space repeatedly. This sense of the world shrinking was exaggerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing new behaviours and modes of interaction to emerge. Continually shaping our modern lives, virtual technologies redefine how we access and share information and stories or even explore new places. …

Pre-Sleep Feeding, Sleep Quality, And Markers Of Recovery In Division I Ncaa Female Soccer Players, Casey E. Greenwalt, Elisa Angeles, Matthew D. Vukovich, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Chris W. Bach, Stacy T. Sims, Tucker Zeleny, Kristen E. Holmes, David M. Presby, Katie J. Schiltz, Marine Dupuit, Liliana I. Renteria, Michael J. Ormsbee

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

Pre-sleep nutrition habits in elite female athletes have yet to be evaluated. A retrospective analysis was performed with 14 NCAA Division I female soccer players who wore a WHOOP, Inc. band – a wearable device that quantifies recovery by measuring sleep, activity, and heart rate metrics through actigraphy and photoplethysmography, respectively – 24 h a day for an entire competitive season to measure sleep and recovery. Pre-sleep food consumption data were collected via surveys every 3 days. Average pre-sleep nutritional intake (mean ± sd: kcals 330 ± 284; cho 46.2 ± 40.5 g; pro 7.6 ± 7.3 g; fat 12 …

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In Adults With Prone Positioning Using Manual Method Versus Specialty Bed: A Retrospective Comparison Cohort Study, Jacqueline M. Demellow, Harbir Dhillon, Mouchumi Bhattacharyya, Daniel Pacitto, Teri M. Kozik

Pacific Faculty Work

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and placed in a prone position manually or using a specialty bed designed to facilitate prone positioning. A secondary aim was to compare mortality rates between these groups. Design: Retrospective review of electronic medical records. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 160 patients with ARDS managed by prone positioning. Their mean age was 61.08 years (SD = 12.73); 58% (n = 96) were male. The study setting was a 355-bed community hospital in the Western United …

Corn Cob And Corn Husk Biochars Enhance The Growth Of Corn (Zea Mays L.) In Fertilized Clay Loam Soil, Arsenio D. Bulfa Jr, Gina Villegas Pangga, Amparo M. Wagan

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Biochar is a carbon (C) rich material that improves soil quality, increases crop yield, and is produced from biomass pyrolysis under a limited oxygen environment. An experiment laid out in a split-plot, a completely randomized design (CRD) and was conducted to investigate the growth responses of corn-to-corn cob biochar (CCB) (15 t ha^-1), and corn husk biochar (CHB) (15 t ha^-1) in a Lipa clay loam soil (Typic Eutrudepts) applied with organic fertilizer (OF) (10 t ha^-1) and inorganic fertilizer [recommended rate (RR):120 N;60 P₂O₅-60; K₂O …

Metals And Metal Complexes In Diseases With A Focus On Covid-19: Facts And Opinions, Agnieszka Ścibior, Manuel Aureliano, Alvin A. Holder, Juan Llopis

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

In the present Special Issue on “Metals and Metal Complexes in Diseases with a Focus on COVID-19: Facts and Opinions”, an attempt has been made to include reports updating our knowledge of elements considered to be potential candidates for therapeutic applications and certain metal-containing species, which are extensively being examined towards their potential biomedical use due to their specific physicochemical properties. The Special Issue compiles data on the role of metals in COVID-19 and focuses on other illnesses and biological processes that affect metal metabolism. It consists of eight manuscripts, including five review articles and three original research papers (Figure …

Nourishing The Future: Research On Building Sustainable Food Systems For A Resilient And Healthy Santa Clara, Ayla Flanagan

Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program

The city of Santa Clara faces challenges related to food insecurity and limited access to resources. The high cost of living in Silicon Valley contributes to financial strain for many residents, with a significant portion of households falling between the federal poverty line and the self-sufficiency index. The city currently relies on food pantries and limited free food resources to address food security issues. Santa Clara's Climate Action Plan includes goals to reduce food waste and rescue edible food as part of its efforts to promote sustainability through 2045. Implementing Senate Bill 1383, which aims to reduce organic waste and …

Utilizing Mixed Graphical Network Models To Explore Parent Psychological Symptoms And Their Centrality To Parent Mental Health In Households With High Child Screen Usage, Piper F. Stacey, Nicholas C. Jacobson, Damien Lekkas

Computer Science Senior Theses

Especially among adolescents, screens are being used more than ever. In conjunction with this trend, mental illness is increasingly prevalent among both adults and children, and parental psychological problems are shown to be associated with children's TV watching, video watching, and gaming (Pulkki-Råback et al., 2022). This study aims to approach parent mental illness symptom by symptom to explore which specific symptoms are most central to parent psychological problems in households where children show high screen time behaviors. We draw from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study®), a nationwide sample of 11,875 children aged 10-13 collected by …

Novel Approach For Non-Invasive Prediction Of Body Shape And Habitus, Emma Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While marker-based motion capture remains the gold standard in measuring human movement, accuracy is influenced by soft-tissue artifacts, particularly for subjects with high body mass index (BMI) where markers are not placed close to the underlying bone. Obesity influences joint loads and motion patterns, and BMI may not be sufficient to capture the distribution of a subject’s weight or to differentiate differences between subjects. Subjects in need of a joint replacement are more likely to have mobility issues or pain, which prevents exercise. Obesity also increases the likelihood of needing a total joint replacement. Accurate movement data for subjects with …

Effect Of Condensed Tannins In Sainfoin On In Vitro Protein Solubility Of Lucerne, J. Aufrère, M. Dudilieu, C. Poncet, R. Baumont

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Proteins of fresh legume forages such as lucerne are highly degraded in the rumen, resulting in their inefficient use by the animal. The condensed tannins (CT) present in some forages can improve the nutritional value of these forages and of associated feeds in the diet. Previous in vitro work (Waghorn & Shelton, 1997) showed that CT from Lotus corniculatus are able to bind with and precipitate protein from a ryegrass/clover pasture, but when these forages were fed to sheep, the CT effects on digestion and animal performance were weak. This revealed a need for a better understanding of the mechanism …

Ariation In Tannin Content And Morphological Traits In Lotus Corniculatus L. (Bird’S-Foot Trefoil), A. H. Marshall, F. Ribaimont, R. P. Collins, D. Bryant, M. T. Abberton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lotus corniculatus L. (bird's-foot trefoil) is a potentially valuable species for UK grassland agriculture. The herbage contains proanthocyanidins, or condensed tannins (CT's), which help to reduce bloat, have anthelmintic properties, can protect protein in the rumen, and thus potentially reduce N losses to the environment. It is currently a relatively minor species within UK grassland, as available varieties lack persistence in mixed swards (Hopkins et al., 1996). The seed used is of foreign bred varieties with no varieties bred specifically for the UK environment. To explore the feasibility of breeding L. corniculatus for the UK, variation in morphological traits, …

Effects Of Simulated High-Sugar Forages On Grazing Behaviour Of Sheep, Gerald P. Cosgrove, A. J. Parsons

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sustaining an optimum composition in mixed-species pasture and in the diet of grazing animals is constrained by many factors. Altering the concentration of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) of one species to improve its nutritional value for animals may not deliver the benefits in the assumed manner if it also affects preference and the balance of species in the pasture. Furthermore, associated changes in other constituents (e.g. fibre, protein) make it difficult to attribute animal responses solely to the manipulated trait (e.g. Lee et al. 2000). The objective of this study was to simulate changes in the concentration of water soluble …