Digital Commons Network^™

Accelerate Scaling Up Forage Intensification Using Novel Digital Extension Approach In Kenya, Donald M. G. Njarui, Mwangi Gatheru, Jessica M. Ndubi, Alice W. Murage, Anne W. Gichangi, Elias M. Gichangi, Udaya S. Nogothu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Wide scale adoption of diverse forages improves livestock productivity and farmers welfare. However, limited access to information and knowledge on forage production results in slow adoption in Kenya. There is need to enhance information and knowledge exchange among farming communities for efficient and effective adoption and decision-making. An inter-institutional pilot project was initiated in 2017 to scale-up forages in Kenya using a novel extension approach - the village knowledge centre (VKC). A VKC is an information and communication technology (ICT) digital platform-based linking farmers through smart phones and social media as a conduit for faster and effective information and knowledge. …

Ispe-Endorsed Guidance In Using Electronic Health Records For Comparative Effectiveness Research In Covid-19 Opportunities And Trade-Offs, Grammati Sarri, Dimitri Bennett, Thomas P. A. Debray, Anouk Deruaz-Luyet, Montse Soriano Gabarró, Joan A. Largent, Xiaojuan Li, Wei Liu, Jennifer L. Lund, Daniela Claudia Moga, Mugdha Gokhale, Christopher T. Rentsch, Xuerong Wen, Chen Yanover, Yizhou Ye, Huifeng Yun, Andrew R. Zullo, Kueiyu Joshua Lin

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

As the scientific research community along with healthcare professionals and decision makers around the world fight tirelessly against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the need for comparative effectiveness research (CER) on preventive and therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 is immense. Randomized controlled trials markedly under-represent the frail and complex patients seen in routine care, and they do not typically have data on long-term treatment effects. The increasing availability of electronic health records (EHRs) for clinical research offers the opportunity to generate timely real-world evidence reflective of routine care for optimal management of COVID-19. However, there are many potential threats to …

Promoting Rangeland Restoration And Climate Resilience Through Grazing Case Studies, T. D. Hudson, S. A. Hall, G. G. Yorgey, S. Neibergs, M. R. Reeves, S. Jensen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cow-calf beef operations are the primary users of the 8.75 million hectares of rangelands in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and will have to adapt to ongoing and future climate change. Management directed toward current rangeland stressors which may be amplified under a changing climate—including fire risk, invasive plants, and droughts—is likely to improve future resilience. And although climate change discussions have become highly politicized, our experience suggests that Pacific Northwest ranchers support "no-regrets” strategies that provide ecological and economic benefits under a variety of future conditions. Our goal is to foster adoption of these strategies by sharing individual success stories. …

Review Of: Wide Neighborhoods: A Story Of The Frontier Nursing Service, Tauna Gulley Phd

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Journal of Appalachian Health is committed to reviewing published media that relates to contemporary concepts affecting the health of Appalachia. Access to care remains one of the biggest challenges to Appalachian Health. The book, Wide Neighborhoods: A Story of the Frontier Nursing Service by Mary Breckinridge, is a well-known title that seems as relevant today as it was in 1952.

Strategy For Conjugating Oligopeptides To Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Using Diazirine-Based Heterobifunctional Linkers, Md Arif Khan, Ramy W. Ghanim, Maelyn R. Kiser, Mahsa Moradipour, Dennis T. Rogers, John M. Littleton, Luke H. Bradley, Bert C. Lynn, Stephen E. Rankin, Barbara L. Knutson

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Successful strategies for the attachment of oligopeptides to mesoporous silica with pores large enough to load biomolecules should utilize the high surface area of pores to provide an accessible, protective environment. A two-step oligopeptide functionalization strategy is examined here using diazirine-based heterobifunctional linkers. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) with average pore diameter of ~8 nm and surface area of ~730 m²/g were synthesized and amine-functionalized. Tetrapeptides Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly (GGGG) and Arg-Ser-Ser-Val (RSSV), and a peptide comprised of four copies of RSSV (4RSSV), were covalently attached via their N-terminus to the amine groups on the particle surface by a heterobifunctional linker, …

Microbiome Of The Cool Season Forage Grass Timothy (Phleum Pratense L.) And Its Potential Role In Stress Tolerance, Dina Saleh, Suha Jabaji, Philippe Seguin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The functional attributes of the microbiome associated with timothy for growth promotion properties, antimicrobial and biosurfactant capacities were characterized. A total of 254 culturable bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing and grouped into 16 taxa that shared high homology of 98–99% with other known sequences. The majority of bacterial isolates exhibited multifunctional growth promotion attributes and plant stress improvement. The selection of competent and compatible strains for application in forage production is dependent on the recognition of root exudates and motility towards the roots, attachment to the root surface, formation of biofilm, penetration, and colonization of internal tissues. We …

Second Heart Field–Derived Cells Contribute To Angiotensin Ii–Mediated Ascending Aortopathies, Hisashi Sawada, Yuriko Katsumata, Hideyuki Higashi, Chen Zhang, Yanming Li, Stephanie Morgan, Lang H. Lee, Sasha A. Singh, Jeff Z. Chen, Michael K. Franklin, Jessica J. Moorleghen, Deborah A. Howatt, Debra L. Rateri, Ying H. Shen, Scott A. Lemaire, Masanori Aikawa, Mark W. Majesky, Hong S. Lu, Alan Daugherty

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The ascending aorta is a common location for aneurysm and dissection. This aortic region is populated by a mosaic of medial and adventitial cells that are embryonically derived from either the second heart field (SHF) or the cardiac neural crest. SHF-derived cells populate areas that coincide with the spatial specificity of thoracic aortopathies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how SHF-derived cells contribute to ascending aortopathies.

METHODS: Ascending aortic pathologies were examined in patients with sporadic thoracic aortopathies and angiotensin II (AngII)–infused mice. Ascending aortas without overt pathology from AngII-infused mice were subjected …

Considering Natural Baselines When Calculating Livestock Impacts Point To A Negligible Role Of Grass-Fed Livestock Systems In Climate Change, P. Manzano, S. R. White

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of baselines is common in a variety of academic disciplines, including environmental science, but they are subjected to relativity depending on the geographical or historical reference considered. Such considerations are illustrated by how invasive species are evaluated or what reference baselines are considered in biodiversity assessments.

The measurement of livestock effects on climate change has, however, disregarded the use of baselines. Current methodology is based exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions by individual animals, without putting them in their ecological context. As a consequence, current analyses of livestock impacts put grass-fed ruminant systems in the spotlight, because of their …

People-Environment Trade-Offs In Managing Communal Rangelands Of South Africa, J. E. Bennett, S. Lemke, T. Marandure

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Communal rangelands in South Africa support a range of ecosystem services including water provision, carbon sequestration and livestock production for different stakeholders. Delivering these in a sustainable and socially appropriate manner necessarily requires trade-offs to be made between the different environmental and social outcomes required. We draw on empirical fieldwork and a two-day participatory stakeholder workshop to report on the early stages of a project evaluating these trade-offs in communal rangelands of the uMzimvubu catchment in Eastern Cape Province. Our findings suggest that trade-offs will be necessary at a variety of different levels within this system. For example, a key …

Prostacyclin Promotes Degenerative Pathology In A Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Tasha R. Womack, Craig T. Vollert, Odochi Ohia-Nwoko, Monika Schmitt, Saghi Montazari, Tina L. Beckett, David Mayerich, M. Paul Murphy, Jason L. Eriksen

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common form of dementia in aged populations. A substantial amount of data demonstrates that chronic neuroinflammation can accelerate neurodegenerative pathologies. In AD, chronic neuroinflammation results in the upregulation of cyclooxygenase and increased production of prostaglandin H2, a precursor for many vasoactive prostanoids. While it is well-established that many prostaglandins can modulate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the brain is poorly understood. We have conducted studies to assess the effect of elevated prostacyclin biosynthesis in a mouse model of AD. Upregulated prostacyclin expression …

Prostacyclin Promotes Degenerative Pathology In A Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Tasha R. Womack, Craig T. Vollert, Odochi Ohia-Nwoko, Monika Schmitt, Saghi Montazari, Tina L. Beckett, David Mayerich, Michael Paul Murphy, Jason L. Eriksen

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common form of dementia in aged populations. A substantial amount of data demonstrates that chronic neuroinflammation can accelerate neurodegenerative pathologies. In AD, chronic neuroinflammation results in the upregulation of cyclooxygenase and increased production of prostaglandin H2, a precursor for many vasoactive prostanoids. While it is well-established that many prostaglandins can modulate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the brain is poorly understood. We have conducted studies to assess the effect of elevated prostacyclin biosynthesis in a mouse model of AD. Upregulated prostacyclin expression …

Volumetric Lattice Boltzmann Method For Wall Stresses Of Image-Based Pulsatile Flows, Xiaoyu Zhang, Joan Gomez-Paz, Xi Chen, James M. Mcdonough, Md Mahfuzul Islam, Yiannis Andreopoulos, Luoding Zhu, Huidan Yu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a new capability for determining wall stresses of pulsatile flows. However, a computational platform that directly connects image information to pulsatile wall stresses is lacking. Prevailing methods rely on manual crafting of a hodgepodge of multidisciplinary software packages, which is usually laborious and error-prone. We present a new computational platform, to compute wall stresses in image-based pulsatile flows using the volumetric lattice Boltzmann method (VLBM). The novelty includes: (1) a unique image processing to extract flow domain and local wall normality, (2) a seamless connection between image extraction and VLBM, (3) an en-route …

Minimal Free Resolutions Of Certain Equigenerated Monomial Ideals, Keller Vandebogert

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Let R=k[x₁,…,x_n] denote the standard graded polynomial ring over a field k. We study certain classes of equigenerated monomial ideals with the property that the so-called complementary ideal has no linear relations on the generators. We then use iterated trimming complexes to deduce Betti numbers for such ideals. Furthermore, using a result on splitting mapping cones by Miller and Rahmati, we construct the minimal free resolutions for all ideals under consideration explicitly and conclude with questions about extra structure on these complexes.

Antitrust Can't Tame Inequality, Let Alone Inflation, Ramsi Woodcock

Law Faculty Popular Media

The Biden administration’s plans to take antitrust action to head off inflation are splitting progressives, with some openly rejecting the notion that monopolies are to blame for surging prices and others arguing that even if the initiative fails to tame inflation, more antitrust enforcement can only be a good thing.

What both sides should be questioning is not whether applying antitrust to inflation is too much of a good thing, but whether antitrust is good for progressives at all. Because, as I explain in a recent paper, an inconvenient truth about competition is that it breeds inequality — something economists …

Form Of Supplemental Selenium Affects The Expression Of Mrna Transcripts Encoding Selenoproteins, And Proteins Regulating Cholesterol Uptake, In The Corpus Luteum Of Grazing Beef Cows, Sarah N. Carr, Benjamin R. Crites, Joy L. Pate, Camilla H. K. Hughes, James C. Matthews, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Selenium (Se)-deficient soils necessitate supplementation of this mineral to the diet of forage-grazing cattle. Functionally, Se is incorporated into selenoproteins, some of which function as important antioxidants. We have previously shown that the source of supplemental Se; inorganic (sodium selenite or sodium selenate; ISe), organic (selenomethionine or selenocysteine; OSe) or 1:1 mix of ISe and OSe (MIX), provided to Angus-cross cows affects concentrations of progesterone (P4) during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle. In this study, we sought to investigate (1) the effect of form of Se on the expression of mRNA encoding selenoproteins in the corpus luteum …

Form Of Supplemental Selenium Affects The Expression Of Mrna Transcripts Encoding Selenoproteins, And Proteins Regulating Cholesterol Uptake, In The Corpus Luteum Of Grazing Beef Cows, Sarah Carr, Benjamin R. Crites, Joy Pate, Camilla Hughes, James C. Matthews, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Graduate Research

Selenium (Se)-deficient soils necessitate supplementation of this mineral to the diet of forage-grazing cattle. Functionally, Se is incorporated into selenoproteins, some of which function as important antioxidants. We have previously shown that the source of supplemental Se; inorganic (sodium selenite or sodium selenate; ISe), organic (selenomethionine or selenocysteine; OSe) or 1:1 mix of ISe and OSe (MIX), provided to Angus-cross cows affects concentrations of progesterone (P4) during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle. In this study, we sought to investigate (1) the effect of form of Se on the expression of mRNA encoding selenoproteins in the corpus luteum …

Human Microrna (Mir-20b-5p) Modulates Alzheimer’S Disease Pathways And Neuronal Function, And A Specific Polymorphism Close To The Mir20b Gene Influences Alzheimer’S Biomarkers, Ruizhi Wang, Nipun Chopra, Kwangsik Nho, Bryan Maloney, Alexander G. Obukhov, Peter T. Nelson, Scott E. Counts, Debomoy K. Lahiri

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with loss of cognitive, executive, and other mental functions, and is the most common form of age-related dementia. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) contributes to the etiology and progression of the disease. Aβ is derived from the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). Multiple microRNA (miRNA) species are also implicated in AD. We report that human hsa-miR20b-5p (miR-20b), produced from the MIR20B gene on Chromosome X, may play complex roles in AD pathogenesis, including Aβ regulation. Specifically, miR-20b-5p miRNA levels were altered in association with disease progression in three regions of the human brain: temporal neocortex, …

Therapeutic Treatment With The Anti-Inflammatory Drug Candidate Mw151 May Partially Reduce Memory Impairment And Normalizes Hippocampal Metabolic Markers In A Mouse Model Of Comorbid Amyloid And Vascular Pathology, David J. Braun, David K. Powell, Christopher J. Mclouth, Saktimayee M. Roy, D. Martin Watterson, Linda J. Van Eldik

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, but therapeutic options are lacking. Despite long being able to effectively treat the ill-effects of pathology present in various rodent models of AD, translation of these strategies to the clinic has so far been disappointing. One potential contributor to this situation is the fact that the vast majority of AD patients have other dementia-contributing comorbid pathologies, the most common of which are vascular in nature. This situation is modeled relatively infrequently in basic AD research, and almost never in preclinical studies. As part of our efforts to develop …

Long-Term Water Balance Evaluation In Glass Ionomer Restorative Materials, Howard Roberts, David Berzins, John Nicholson

Oral Health Practice Faculty Publications

The complex role of water in glass ionomer cement (polyalkenoate) dental restorative materials has been studied, but much of the present understanding concerning water balance within these materials is based on very early studies and short-term experiments. This study evaluated the nature of the water species of six conventional and four resin modified glass ionomer restorative materials over 3 years using thermogravimetric analysis techniques. Materials were prepared, placed in crucibles, and stored in physiologic phosphate buffered saline and evaluated at 24 h, 1 week, and then at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months. All materials …

Transforming Obesity Prevention For Children (Topchild) Collaboration: Protocol For A Systematic Review With Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Of Behavioural Interventions For The Prevention Of Early Childhood Obesity, Kylie E. Hunter, Brittany J. Johnson, Lisa Askie, Rebecca K. Golley, Louise A. Baur, Ian C. Marschner, Rachael W. Taylor, Luke Wolfenden, Charles T. Wood, Seema Mihrshahi, Alison J. Hayes, Chris Rissel, Kristy P. Robledo, Denise A. O'Connor, David Espinoza, Lukas P. Staub, Paul Chadwick, Sarah Taki, Angie Barba, Sol Libesman, Ana Maria Linares

Nursing Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Behavioural interventions in early life appear to show some effect in reducing childhood overweight and obesity. However, uncertainty remains regarding their overall effectiveness, and whether effectiveness differs among key subgroups. These evidence gaps have prompted an increase in very early childhood obesity prevention trials worldwide. Combining the individual participant data (IPD) from these trials will enhance statistical power to determine overall effectiveness and enable examination of individual and trial-level subgroups. We present a protocol for a systematic review with IPD meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions commencing antenatally or in the first year after birth, and …

A Muscle Cell-Macrophage Axis Involving Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 Facilitates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling With Mechanical Loading, Bailey D. Peck, Kevin A. Murach, R. Grace Walton, Alexander J. Simmons, Douglas E. Long, Kate Kosmac, Cory M. Dungan, Philip A. Kern, Marcas M. Bamman, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle plays an integral role in tissue development, structural support, and force transmission. For successful adaptation to mechanical loading, remodeling processes must occur. In a large cohort of older adults, transcriptomics revealed that genes involved in ECM remodeling, including matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), were the most upregulated following 14 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training (PRT). Using single-cell RNA-seq, we identified macrophages as a source of Mmp14 in muscle following a hypertrophic exercise stimulus in mice. In vitro contractile activity in myotubes revealed that the gene encoding cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor ( …

A Muscle Cell-Macrophage Axis Involving Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 Facilitates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling With Mechanical Loading, Bailey D. Peck, Kevin A. Murach, R. Grace Walton, Alexander J. Simmons, Douglas E. Long, Kate Kosmac, Cory M. Dungan, Philip A. Kern, Marcas M. Bamman, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle plays an integral role in tissue development, structural support, and force transmission. For successful adaptation to mechanical loading, remodeling processes must occur. In a large cohort of older adults, transcriptomics revealed that genes involved in ECM remodeling, including matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), were the most upregulated following 14 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training (PRT). Using single-cell RNA-seq, we identified macrophages as a source of Mmp14 in muscle following a hypertrophic exercise stimulus in mice. In vitro contractile activity in myotubes revealed that the gene encoding cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor ( …

Assessment Of Causality Between Climate Variables And Production For Whole Crop Maize Using Structural Equation Modeling, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, H. Jo, K. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aimed to assess the causality of different climate variables on the production of whole crop maize silage (Zea mays L.; WCM) in the central inland region of the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the effect of these climate variables was also determined by looking at direct and indirect pathways during the stages before and after silking. The WCM metadata (n = 640) were collected from the Rural Development Administration’s reports of new variety adaptability from 1985‒2011 (27 years). The climate data was collected based on year and location from the Korean Meteorology Administration’s weather information system. Causality, in …

Online Pilot Grocery Intervention Among Rural And Urban Residents Aimed To Improve Purchasing Habits, Alison A. Gustafson, Rachel Gillespie, Emily M. Dewitt, Brittany Cox, Brynnan Dunaway, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, Elizabeth Anderson Steeves, Angela C. B. Trude

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Online grocery shopping has the potential to improve access to food, particularly among low-income households located in urban food deserts and rural communities. The primary aim of this pilot intervention was to test whether a three-armed online grocery trial improved fruit and vegetable (F&V) purchases. Rural and urban adults across seven counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina were recruited to participate in an 8-week intervention in fall 2021. A total of 184 adults were enrolled into the following groups: (1) brick-and-mortar “BM” (control participants only received reminders to submit weekly grocery shopping receipts); (2) online-only with no support “O” …

Coordinated Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, And Pharmaceutical Care Telehealth For People With Parkinson Disease In Rural Communities: An Exploratory, 8-Week Cohort Study For Feasibility, Safety, And Signal Of Efficacy, Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker, Merrill R. Landers, Annalisa Piccorelli, Erin Bush, Reshmi Singh

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

Introduction: The potential for coordinated, multidisciplinary telehealth to help connect people with Parkinson disease (PD) in rural areas to PD specialists is crucial in optimizing care. Therefore, this study aimed to test the feasibility, safety, and signal of efficacy of a coordinated telehealth program, consisting of speech therapy, physiotherapy, and pharmaceutical care, for people with PD living in some rural US communities.

Methods: Fifteen individuals with PD living in rural Wyoming and Nevada, USA, participated in this single-cohort, 8-week pilot study. Participants were assessed before and after 8 weeks of coordinated, one-on-one telehealth using the following outcomes: (1) …

Technology Transfer And Education Training And Extension In Grassland Farming, K. G. Rickert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stakeholders in grassland farming, including farmers, rural communities, urban consumers, politicians, educators, and service agencies, widely agree that the goal for grassland farming is the triple bottom line: farming systems that are ecologically sustainable, profitable and socially acceptable. This paper considers how extension and training might contribute to that worthy goal by encouraging practitioners to better manage their management environment. The notion of a management environment refers to a holistic consideration of those factors that impact on farmers, farm advisors or educators, that subset of grassland farming ‘practitioners’ within the wider range of stakeholders.

The difficulty faced by these practitioners …

Esfuerzos Realizados En Puerto Rico Hacia La Consolidación De Políticas Públicas Para La Prevención De Cánceres Asociados Al Vph, Diana T. Medina-Laabes, Vivian Colón-López, Vilnery Rivera-Figueroa, Coralia Vázquez-Otero, Glizette O. Arroyo-Morales, Lara Arce-Cintrón, Paola Fernández-Rivera, Idamaris Vega, Roxana Soto-Abreu, Olga L. Díaz-Miranda, Ángel Rivera, Iris Cardona, Ana P. Ortiz, Lilliam Rodríguez Capó, Pamela C. Hull

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

El propósito de este informe especial es describir cronológicamente los eventos que contribuyeron al desarrollo y aprobación de la legislación e implementación del requisito escolar de vacunación en Puerto Rico (PR), con el fin de prevenir el VPH y los cánceres asociados a este. A partir del 2010, PR inició las aprobaciones de políticas públicas con el objetivo de mejorar el registro de casos de los cánceres y la cobertura de la vacuna contra el VPH a través de los planes médicos en adolescentes de 11 a 18 años. En el 2014, los esfuerzos científicos y comunitarios lograron documentar la …

Digestibility Estimates Based On A Grass Growth Model Are Distributed Via Internet To Finnish Farmers, Marketta Rinne, J. Nousiainen, I. Mattila, H. Nikander, P. Huhtanen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Optimising the harvesting time of grass in primary growth is difficult under Finnish climatic conditions, because the digestibility of grass decreases on average by 0.5 percentage units daily. We constructed a model based on cumulative temperature and geographical location which estimates the digestibility of grass. This model is used to produce estimates utilising real time weather information. The estimates are presented as a map, which is revised daily. Farmers have free access to the maps via Internet.

Developing A National Alfalfa Information System, David B. Hannaway, K. J. Hannaway, P. Sohn, S. Griffith, B. E. Avery, E. Nowick, W. F. Wedin, L. R. Vough, S. C. Bosworth, Garry D. Lacefield, Gary E. Bates, D. Undersander, N. P. Martin, J. Caddel, G. L. Kilgore, S. B. Orloff, A. M. Gray, R. Ditterline, T. Griggs, D. H. Putnam, M. J. Ottman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Using state-of-the-art telecommunication technologies, this project is developing a comprehensive knowledge resource for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); the National Alfalfa Information System (NAIS). This project will serve as an improved model for Extension educational programs. Alfalfa is the most important forage crop in the USA and grown worldwide for feeding millions of livestock and in many cropping systems. As a legume, it is important in sustaining the environment and the productivity of agriculture. Information needs are present in every state and internationally. The NAIS is being developed through national and international cooperation, putting the best science-based alfalfa information and …

Tracking Sentiments Toward Fat Acceptance Over A Decade On Twitter, Sadie Bograd, Benjamin Chen, Ramakanth Kavuluru

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

The fat acceptance (FA) movement aims to counteract weight stigma and discrimination against individuals who are overweight/obese. We developed a supervised neural network model to classify sentiment toward the FA movement in tweets and identify links between FA sentiment and various Twitter user characteristics. We collected any tweet containing either “fat acceptance” or “#fatacceptance” from 2010–2019 and obtained 48,974 unique tweets. We independently labeled 2000 of them and implemented/trained an Average stochastic gradient descent Weight-Dropped Long Short-Term Memory (AWD-LSTM) neural network that incorporates transfer learning from language modeling to automatically identify each tweet’s stance toward the FA movement. Our model …